diff --git a/examples/sudoku.rs b/examples/sudoku.rs
index 818b4fde..da9b69a5 100644
--- a/examples/sudoku.rs
+++ b/examples/sudoku.rs
@@ -260,6 +260,8 @@ impl DependencyProvider for SudokuProvider {
             favored: None,
             hint_dependencies_available: HintDependenciesAvailable::All,
             excluded: Vec::new(),
+            allow_self_conflicts: false,
+            allow_multiple: false,
         })
     }
 
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 8a0552b6..c4701e82 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -200,6 +200,18 @@ pub struct Candidates<S = SolvableId> {
     /// consider these solvables when forming a solution but will use
     /// them in the error message if no solution could be found.
     pub excluded: Vec<(S, StringId)>,
+
+    /// When `true`, self-referential constraints (where a package conflicts
+    /// with something it also provides) are silently ignored rather than
+    /// marking the package uninstallable. Defaults to `false`.
+    ///
+    /// Some ecosystems (e.g. RPM) require this because packages routinely
+    /// provide and conflict with the same virtual capability.
+    pub allow_self_conflicts: bool,
+    /// When `true`, the solver allows multiple solvables of this package to
+    /// appear in the solution simultaneously. By default only one version of
+    /// each package can be selected.
+    pub allow_multiple: bool,
 }
 
 impl<S> Default for Candidates<S> {
@@ -210,6 +222,8 @@ impl<S> Default for Candidates<S> {
             locked: None,
             hint_dependencies_available: HintDependenciesAvailable::None,
             excluded: Vec::new(),
+            allow_self_conflicts: false,
+            allow_multiple: false,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/snapshot.rs b/src/snapshot.rs
index 7389f86b..3a74353c 100644
--- a/src/snapshot.rs
+++ b/src/snapshot.rs
@@ -531,6 +531,8 @@ impl DependencyProvider for SnapshotProvider<'_> {
                     .filter(|&s| self.solvable(s).hint_dependencies_available)
                     .collect(),
             ),
+            allow_self_conflicts: false,
+            allow_multiple: false,
         })
     }
 
diff --git a/src/solver/encoding.rs b/src/solver/encoding.rs
index 44444909..431d1e63 100644
--- a/src/solver/encoding.rs
+++ b/src/solver/encoding.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 use std::{any::Any, collections::VecDeque, future::ready};
 
-use super::{SolverState, clause::WatchedLiterals, conditions};
+use super::{
+    SolverState,
+    clause::{Clause, WatchedLiterals},
+    conditions,
+};
 use crate::{
     Candidates, ConditionId, ConditionalRequirement, DenseIndex, Dependencies, DependencyProvider,
     SolverCache, StringId, VariableId, VersionSetId,
@@ -258,6 +262,13 @@ impl<'a, 'cache, D: DependencyProvider> Encoder<'a, 'cache, D> {
             self.cache.provider().display_name(name_id)
         );
 
+        if package_candidates.allow_self_conflicts {
+            self.state.allow_self_conflicts_names.insert(name_id);
+        }
+        if package_candidates.allow_multiple {
+            self.state.allow_multiple_names.insert(name_id);
+        }
+
         // If there is a locked solvable, forbid all other candidates
         if let Some(locked_solvable_id) = package_candidates.locked {
             self.add_locked_package_clauses(locked_solvable_id, &package_candidates.candidates);
@@ -437,6 +448,13 @@ impl<'a, 'cache, D: DependencyProvider> Encoder<'a, 'cache, D> {
 
         let variable = self.state.variable_map.intern_solvable_or_root(solvable_id);
         for &forbidden_candidate in candidates {
+            if SolvableIdOrRoot::from(forbidden_candidate) == solvable_id {
+                let name_id = self.cache.provider().solvable_name(forbidden_candidate);
+                if !self.state.allow_self_conflicts_names.contains(name_id) {
+                    self.add_self_conflict_clause(variable, constraint);
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
             let forbidden_candidate_var =
                 self.state.variable_map.intern_solvable(forbidden_candidate);
             let (watched_literals, conflict, kind) = WatchedLiterals::constrains(
@@ -500,6 +518,19 @@ impl<'a, 'cache, D: DependencyProvider> Encoder<'a, 'cache, D> {
         variable
     }
 
+    /// Adds a unary constrains clause that forbids a solvable that conflicts
+    /// with something it also provides (a self-conflict).
+    fn add_self_conflict_clause(&mut self, variable: VariableId, constraint: VersionSetId) {
+        let kind = Clause::Constrains(variable, variable, constraint);
+        let clause_id = self.state.add_clause(None, kind);
+
+        self.state.negative_assertions.push((variable, clause_id));
+
+        if self.state.decision_tracker.assigned_value(variable) == Some(true) {
+            self.conflicting_clauses.push(clause_id);
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Enqueues retrieving the dependencies for a solvable.
     ///
     /// This method requests the dependencies for the given solvable in an
@@ -625,7 +656,11 @@ impl<'a, 'cache, D: DependencyProvider> Encoder<'a, 'cache, D> {
     /// Record `variable` as a candidate for a forbid-multiple clause under
     /// `name_id`. Returns silently if the variable has already been registered;
     /// see [`Self::forbid_seen`] for why globally-deduplicating is safe.
+    /// Also skips registration for packages that allow multiple versions.
     fn register_forbid_target(&mut self, name_id: D::NameId, variable: VariableId) {
+        if self.state.allow_multiple_names.contains(name_id) {
+            return;
+        }
         if self.forbid_seen.insert(variable) {
             self.pending_forbid_clauses
                 .entry(name_id)
diff --git a/src/solver/mod.rs b/src/solver/mod.rs
index 35b213a9..46057fb6 100644
--- a/src/solver/mod.rs
+++ b/src/solver/mod.rs
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@ pub(crate) struct SolverState<D: DependencyProvider> {
 
     clauses_added_for_package: <D::NameId as SolverId>::Set,
     clauses_added_for_solvable: WithRootSet<D::SolvableId>,
+    pub(crate) allow_self_conflicts_names: <D::NameId as SolverId>::Set,
+    pub(crate) allow_multiple_names: <D::NameId as SolverId>::Set,
     at_most_one_trackers: HashMap<D::NameId, AtMostOnceTracker<VariableId>>,
 
     /// Keeps track of auxiliary variables that are used to encode at-least-one
@@ -249,6 +251,8 @@ impl<D: DependencyProvider> Default for SolverState<D> {
             disjunctions: Default::default(),
             clauses_added_for_package: Default::default(),
             clauses_added_for_solvable: Default::default(),
+            allow_self_conflicts_names: Default::default(),
+            allow_multiple_names: Default::default(),
             at_most_one_trackers: Default::default(),
             at_least_one_tracker: Default::default(),
             decision_tracker: Default::default(),
diff --git a/tests/solver/bundle_box/mod.rs b/tests/solver/bundle_box/mod.rs
index 40402fd6..6d6f3c54 100644
--- a/tests/solver/bundle_box/mod.rs
+++ b/tests/solver/bundle_box/mod.rs
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ pub struct BundleBoxProvider {
     favored: HashMap<String, Pack>,
     locked: HashMap<String, Pack>,
     excluded: HashMap<String, HashMap<Pack, String>>,
+    allow_self_conflicts: HashSet<String>,
+    allow_multiple: HashSet<String>,
     cancel_solving: Cell<bool>,
     // TODO: simplify?
     concurrent_requests: Arc<AtomicUsize>,
@@ -166,6 +168,14 @@ impl BundleBoxProvider {
             .insert(Pack::new(version), reason.into());
     }
 
+    pub fn set_allow_self_conflicts(&mut self, package_name: &str) {
+        self.allow_self_conflicts.insert(package_name.to_owned());
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_allow_multiple(&mut self, package_name: &str) {
+        self.allow_multiple.insert(package_name.to_owned());
+    }
+
     pub fn set_locked(&mut self, package_name: &str, version: u32) {
         self.locked
             .insert(package_name.to_owned(), Pack::new(version));
@@ -343,6 +353,8 @@ impl DependencyProvider for BundleBoxProvider {
 
         let mut candidates = Candidates {
             candidates: Vec::with_capacity(package.len()),
+            allow_self_conflicts: self.allow_self_conflicts.contains(package_name),
+            allow_multiple: self.allow_multiple.contains(package_name),
             ..Candidates::default()
         };
         let favor = self.favored.get(package_name);
diff --git a/tests/solver/main.rs b/tests/solver/main.rs
index e4273888..58834c92 100644
--- a/tests/solver/main.rs
+++ b/tests/solver/main.rs
@@ -1370,3 +1370,208 @@ fn test_constrains_multiple_parents() {
     x=1
     "###);
 }
+
+/// When `forbid_self_conflicts` is false, a package that constrains itself
+/// is silently allowed. Some ecosystems (e.g. RPM) explicitly support this.
+/// The real-world examples are structured a bit differently however.
+#[test]
+fn test_self_conflict_allowed() {
+    let mut provider = BundleBoxProvider::new();
+    // a=1 constrains "a" to [2,100) — version 1 is NOT in that range,
+    // so a=1 appears as a non-matching candidate for its own constraint
+    // (i.e. a self-conflict).
+    provider.add_package("a", 1.into(), &[], &["a 2..100"]);
+    provider.set_allow_self_conflicts("a");
+
+    let requirements = provider.requirements(&["a"]);
+    let mut solver = Solver::new(provider);
+    let problem = Problem::new().requirements(requirements);
+    let solved = solver.solve(problem).unwrap();
+    let result = transaction_to_string(solver.provider(), &solved);
+    assert_snapshot!(result, @r"
+    a=1
+    ");
+}
+
+/// When `forbid_self_conflicts` is true (the default), a package that
+/// constrains itself is marked uninstallable.
+#[test]
+fn test_self_conflict_forbidden() {
+    let mut provider = BundleBoxProvider::new();
+    provider.add_package("a", 1.into(), &[], &["a 2..100"]);
+
+    let requirements = provider.requirements(&["a"]);
+    let mut solver = Solver::new(provider);
+    let problem = Problem::new().requirements(requirements);
+    match solver.solve(problem) {
+        Ok(_) => panic!("expected unsat due to self-conflict"),
+        Err(UnsolvableOrCancelled::Unsolvable(_)) => {}
+        Err(UnsolvableOrCancelled::Cancelled(_)) => {
+            panic!("expected unsolvable, not cancelled")
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// When `forbid_self_conflicts` is false and there are multiple versions,
+/// only the self-conflicting version is skipped — other versions of the
+/// same package are still constrained normally.
+#[test]
+fn test_self_conflict_allowed_multiple_versions() {
+    let mut provider = BundleBoxProvider::new();
+    // a=1 constrains "a" to [2,100) — a=1 itself is outside that range
+    // (self-conflict, skipped), but a=2 is inside, so no constraint on a=2.
+    // a=3 constrains "a" to [4,100) — a=3 itself is outside (self-conflict,
+    // skipped), but a=1 and a=2 are also outside so they ARE forbidden.
+    provider.add_package("a", 1.into(), &[], &["a 2..100"]);
+    provider.add_package("a", 2.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("a", 3.into(), &[], &["a 4..100"]);
+    provider.set_allow_self_conflicts("a");
+
+    let requirements = provider.requirements(&["a"]);
+    let mut solver = Solver::new(provider);
+    let problem = Problem::new().requirements(requirements);
+    let solved = solver.solve(problem).unwrap();
+    let result = transaction_to_string(solver.provider(), &solved);
+    // a=3 is the highest version; its self-conflict is ignored, and it
+    // constrains a=1 and a=2 away normally.
+    assert_snapshot!(result, @r"
+    a=3
+    ");
+}
+
+/// `allow_self_conflicts` works correctly when the self-conflicting
+/// package is a transitive dependency discovered in a later solver pass.
+#[test]
+fn test_self_conflict_allowed_transitive() {
+    let mut provider = BundleBoxProvider::new();
+    // "a" has a self-conflict and is a transitive dep of "app" via "lib".
+    provider.add_package("a", 1.into(), &[], &["a 2..100"]);
+    provider.set_allow_self_conflicts("a");
+    provider.add_package("lib", 1.into(), &["a"], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("app", 1.into(), &["lib"], &[]);
+
+    let requirements = provider.requirements(&["app"]);
+    let mut solver = Solver::new(provider);
+    let problem = Problem::new().requirements(requirements);
+    let solved = solver.solve(problem).unwrap();
+    let result = transaction_to_string(solver.provider(), &solved);
+    assert_snapshot!(result, @r"
+    a=1
+    app=1
+    lib=1
+    ");
+}
+
+/// When `allow_multiple` is set on a package's candidates, the solver
+/// permits multiple versions of that package in the solution.
+#[test]
+fn test_allow_multiple_versions() {
+    let mut provider = BundleBoxProvider::new();
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 1.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 2.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 3.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.set_allow_multiple("kernel");
+
+    // Request all three versions as soft requirements.
+    let k1 = provider.solvable_id("kernel", 1u32);
+    let k2 = provider.solvable_id("kernel", 2u32);
+    let k3 = provider.solvable_id("kernel", 3u32);
+    let requirements = provider.requirements(&["kernel"]);
+    let mut solver = Solver::new(provider);
+    let problem = Problem::new()
+        .requirements(requirements)
+        .soft_requirements(vec![k1, k2, k3]);
+    let solved = solver.solve(problem).unwrap();
+    let result = transaction_to_string(solver.provider(), &solved);
+    assert_snapshot!(result, @r"
+    kernel=1
+    kernel=2
+    kernel=3
+    ");
+}
+
+/// Without `allow_multiple`, only the highest version is selected.
+#[test]
+fn test_single_version_default() {
+    let mut provider = BundleBoxProvider::new();
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 1.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 2.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 3.into(), &[], &[]);
+
+    let requirements = provider.requirements(&["kernel"]);
+    let mut solver = Solver::new(provider);
+    let problem = Problem::new().requirements(requirements);
+    let solved = solver.solve(problem).unwrap();
+    let result = transaction_to_string(solver.provider(), &solved);
+    assert_snapshot!(result, @r"
+    kernel=3
+    ");
+}
+
+/// `allow_multiple` works correctly when the multiversion package is
+/// required by a transitive dependency discovered in a later solver
+/// pass (i.e. a different Encoder invocation than the one that first
+/// processed the package's candidates).
+#[test]
+fn test_allow_multiple_transitive() {
+    let mut provider = BundleBoxProvider::new();
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 1.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 2.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 3.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.set_allow_multiple("kernel");
+    // "app" depends on kernel and driver; driver also depends on kernel.
+    // driver's dependency on kernel will be processed in a later encoder
+    // invocation after driver is selected.
+    provider.add_package("app", 1.into(), &["kernel 2..100", "driver"], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("driver", 1.into(), &["kernel 1..100"], &[]);
+
+    let k1 = provider.solvable_id("kernel", 1u32);
+    let k2 = provider.solvable_id("kernel", 2u32);
+    let k3 = provider.solvable_id("kernel", 3u32);
+    let requirements = provider.requirements(&["app"]);
+    let mut solver = Solver::new(provider);
+    let problem = Problem::new()
+        .requirements(requirements)
+        .soft_requirements(vec![k1, k2, k3]);
+    let solved = solver.solve(problem).unwrap();
+    let result = transaction_to_string(solver.provider(), &solved);
+    assert_snapshot!(result, @r"
+    app=1
+    driver=1
+    kernel=1
+    kernel=2
+    kernel=3
+    ");
+}
+
+/// `allow_multiple` packages still respect dependency constraints
+/// from other packages.
+#[test]
+fn test_allow_multiple_with_constraints() {
+    let mut provider = BundleBoxProvider::new();
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 1.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 2.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.add_package("kernel", 3.into(), &[], &[]);
+    provider.set_allow_multiple("kernel");
+    // "app" depends on kernel >=2
+    provider.add_package("app", 1.into(), &["kernel 2..100"], &[]);
+
+    let k1 = provider.solvable_id("kernel", 1u32);
+    let k2 = provider.solvable_id("kernel", 2u32);
+    let k3 = provider.solvable_id("kernel", 3u32);
+    let requirements = provider.requirements(&["app"]);
+    let mut solver = Solver::new(provider);
+    let problem = Problem::new()
+        .requirements(requirements)
+        .soft_requirements(vec![k1, k2, k3]);
+    let solved = solver.solve(problem).unwrap();
+    let result = transaction_to_string(solver.provider(), &solved);
+    // All three kernel versions are installed; app's requirement is
+    // satisfied by kernel=2 and kernel=3.
+    assert_snapshot!(result, @r"
+    app=1
+    kernel=1
+    kernel=2
+    kernel=3
+    ");
+}