diff --git a/slothy/core/config.py b/slothy/core/config.py
index 935977de..8ff4dc25 100644
--- a/slothy/core/config.py
+++ b/slothy/core/config.py
@@ -69,16 +69,37 @@ def outputs(self):
     def reserved_regs(self):
         """Set of architectural registers _not_ available for register renaming.
         May be unset (None) to pick the default reserved registers for the target
-        architecture. If set, it _overwrites_ the default reserved registers for
-        the target architecture -- that is, if you still want the default reserved
-        registers to remain reserved, you have to explicitly list them.
+        architecture.
 
         In the lingo of inline assembly, this can be seen as the complement of
-        the clobber list."""
+        the clobber list.
+
+        NOTE: Reserved registers are, by default, considered  "locked": They
+          will not be _introduced_ during renaming, but existing uses will not
+          be touched. If you want to remove existing uses of reserved registers
+          through renaming, you should disable `reserved_regs_are_locked`.
+
+        WARNING: When this is set, it _overwrites_ the default reserved registers for
+          the target architecture. If you still want the default reserved
+          registers to remain reserved, you have to explicitly list them!"""
         if self._reserved_regs is not None:
             return self._reserved_regs
         return self._arch.RegisterType.default_reserved()
 
+    @property
+    def reserved_regs_are_locked(self):
+        """Indicates whether reserved registers should be locked by default.
+
+        Reserved registers are not introduced during renaming. However, where
+        they are already used by the input assembly, their use will not be
+        eliminated or altered -- that is, reserved registers are 'locked' by
+        default.
+
+        Disable this configuration option to allow (in fact, force) renaming
+        of existing uses of reserved registers. This can be useful when trying
+        to eliminate uses of particular registers from some piece of assembly."""
+        return self._reserved_regs_are_locked
+
     @property
     def selfcheck(self):
         """Indicates whether SLOTHY performs a self-check on the optimization result.
@@ -263,7 +284,10 @@ def inputs_are_outputs(self):
     def locked_registers(self):
         """List of architectural registers that should not be renamed when they are
            used as output registers. Reserved registers are always treated as locked."""
-        return set(self.reserved_regs).union(self._locked_registers)
+        if self.reserved_regs_are_locked:
+            return set(self.reserved_regs).union(self._locked_registers)
+        else:
+            return set(self._locked_registers)
 
     @property
     def sw_pipelining(self):
@@ -1023,6 +1047,7 @@ def __init__(self, Arch, Target):
 
         self._locked_registers = []
         self._reserved_regs = None
+        self._reserved_regs_are_locked = True
 
         self._selfcheck = True
         self._allow_useless_instructions = False
@@ -1119,6 +1144,9 @@ def _check_rename_config(self, lst):
     @reserved_regs.setter
     def reserved_regs(self,val):
         self._reserved_regs = val
+    @reserved_regs_are_locked.setter
+    def reserved_regs_are_locked(self,val):
+        self._reserved_regs_are_locked = val
     @variable_size.setter
     def variable_size(self,val):
         self._variable_size = val