diff --git a/mercurial/interfaces/repository.py b/mercurial/interfaces/repository.py
--- a/mercurial/interfaces/repository.py
+++ b/mercurial/interfaces/repository.py
@@ -1856,7 +1856,9 @@
     def savecommitmessage(text):
         pass
 
-    def register_sidedata_computer(kind, category, keys, computer, flags):
+    def register_sidedata_computer(
+        kind, category, keys, computer, flags, replace=False
+    ):
         pass
 
     def register_wanted_sidedata(category):
diff --git a/mercurial/localrepo.py b/mercurial/localrepo.py
--- a/mercurial/localrepo.py
+++ b/mercurial/localrepo.py
@@ -3369,16 +3369,25 @@
             return
         self._wanted_sidedata.add(pycompat.bytestr(category))
 
-    def register_sidedata_computer(self, kind, category, keys, computer, flags):
+    def register_sidedata_computer(
+        self, kind, category, keys, computer, flags, replace=False
+    ):
         if kind not in revlogconst.ALL_KINDS:
             msg = _(b"unexpected revlog kind '%s'.")
             raise error.ProgrammingError(msg % kind)
         category = pycompat.bytestr(category)
-        if category in self._sidedata_computers.get(kind, []):
+        already_registered = category in self._sidedata_computers.get(kind, [])
+        if already_registered and not replace:
             msg = _(
                 b"cannot register a sidedata computer twice for category '%s'."
             )
             raise error.ProgrammingError(msg % category)
+        if replace and not already_registered:
+            msg = _(
+                b"cannot replace a sidedata computer that isn't registered "
+                b"for category '%s'."
+            )
+            raise error.ProgrammingError(msg % category)
         self._sidedata_computers.setdefault(kind, {})
         self._sidedata_computers[kind][category] = (keys, computer, flags)