diff --git a/proseco/guide.py b/proseco/guide.py
index 42884d96..b39f1645 100644
--- a/proseco/guide.py
+++ b/proseco/guide.py
@@ -385,6 +385,16 @@ def select_catalog(self, stage_cands):
         """
         self.log(f"Selecting catalog from {len(stage_cands)} stage-selected stars")
 
+        forced = np.in1d(stage_cands["id"], self.include_ids)
+        n_forced = np.count_nonzero(forced)
+        if self.n_guide == n_forced:
+            self.log("All guide stars are force-included")
+            return stage_cands[forced]
+
+        # This subtracts the number of unique force-included stars as they are not
+        # part of the combination selection process.
+        choose_m = min(len(stage_cands), self.n_guide) - n_forced
+
         def index_combinations(n, m):
             seen = set()
             for n_tmp in range(m, n + 1):
@@ -393,21 +403,18 @@ def index_combinations(n, m):
                         seen.add(comb)
                         yield comb
 
-        # Set a dictionary to save the first combination of that satisfies N tests.
+        # Set a dictionary to save the first combination that satisfies N tests.
         # This will be used if no combination satisfies all the tests.
         select_results = {}
 
-        # I should come back to this and see if the "min" is needed or if the combinations
-        # code runs fine even if we have fewer-than-expected stage_cands to start
-        choose_m = min(len(stage_cands), self.n_guide)
-
         n_tries = 0
+        cands_not_forced = stage_cands[~forced]
         for n_tries, comb in enumerate(
-            index_combinations(len(stage_cands), choose_m), start=1
+            index_combinations(len(cands_not_forced), choose_m), start=1
         ):
-            cands = stage_cands[
-                list(comb)
-            ]  # (note that [(1,2)] is not the same as list((1,2))
+            all_ids = list(self.include_ids) + list(cands_not_forced["id"][list(comb)])
+            cands = stage_cands[np.in1d(stage_cands["id"], all_ids)]
+            # (note that [(1,2)] is not the same as list((1,2))
             n_pass, n_tests = run_select_checks(
                 cands
             )  # This function knows how many tests get run
diff --git a/proseco/tests/test_guide.py b/proseco/tests/test_guide.py
index 0c916be9..e3317727 100644
--- a/proseco/tests/test_guide.py
+++ b/proseco/tests/test_guide.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     get_ax_range,
     get_guide_catalog,
     get_pixmag_for_offset,
+    run_select_checks,
 )
 from ..report_guide import make_report
 from .test_common import DARK40, OBS_INFO, STD_INFO, mod_std_info
@@ -609,6 +610,45 @@ def test_guides_include_bad():
     assert "cannot include star id=20" in str(err)
 
 
+def test_guides_include_close():
+    """
+    Test force include stars where they would not be selected due to
+    clustering.
+    """
+    stars = StarsTable.empty()
+
+    stars.add_fake_constellation(
+        mag=[7.0, 7.0, 7.0, 7.0, 7.0], id=[25, 26, 27, 28, 29], size=2000, n_stars=5
+    )
+
+    stars.add_fake_star(mag=11.0, yang=100, zang=100, id=21)
+    stars.add_fake_star(mag=11.0, yang=-100, zang=-100, id=22)
+    stars.add_fake_star(mag=11.0, yang=100, zang=-100, id=23)
+    stars.add_fake_star(mag=11.0, yang=-100, zang=100, id=24)
+
+    cat1 = get_guide_catalog(**mod_std_info(n_guide=5), stars=stars)
+
+    # Run the cluster checks and confirm all 3 pass
+    cat1_pass, _ = run_select_checks(cat1)
+    assert cat1_pass == 3
+
+    # Confirm that only bright stars are used
+    assert np.count_nonzero(cat1["mag"] == 7.0) == 5
+
+    # Force include the faint 4 stars that are also close together
+    include_ids = [21, 22, 23, 24]
+    cat2 = get_guide_catalog(
+        **mod_std_info(n_guide=5), stars=stars, include_ids_guide=include_ids
+    )
+
+    # Run the cluster checks and confirm all 3 fail
+    cat2_pass, _ = run_select_checks(cat2)
+    assert cat2_pass == 0
+    assert np.all(np.in1d(include_ids, cat2["id"]))
+    # And confirm that only one of the bright stars is used
+    assert np.count_nonzero(cat2["mag"] == 7.0) == 1
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("dither", dither_cases)
 def test_edge_star(dither):
     """