diff --git a/crates/bevy_ecs/src/change_detection.rs b/crates/bevy_ecs/src/change_detection.rs
index 0884fbd59ebb3..0347b8ffd738e 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ecs/src/change_detection.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ecs/src/change_detection.rs
@@ -859,6 +859,15 @@ impl<'w, T: ?Sized> Ref<'w, T> {
             changed_by: caller,
         }
     }
+
+    /// Overwrite the `last_run` and `this_run` tick that are used for change detection.
+    ///
+    /// This is an advanced feature. `Ref`s are usually _created_ by engine-internal code and
+    /// _consumed_ by end-user code.
+    pub fn set_ticks(&mut self, last_run: Tick, this_run: Tick) {
+        self.ticks.last_run = last_run;
+        self.ticks.this_run = this_run;
+    }
 }
 
 impl<'w, 'a, T> IntoIterator for &'a Ref<'w, T>
@@ -978,6 +987,15 @@ impl<'w, T: ?Sized> Mut<'w, T> {
             changed_by: caller,
         }
     }
+
+    /// Overwrite the `last_run` and `this_run` tick that are used for change detection.
+    ///
+    /// This is an advanced feature. `Mut`s are usually _created_ by engine-internal code and
+    /// _consumed_ by end-user code.
+    pub fn set_ticks(&mut self, last_run: Tick, this_run: Tick) {
+        self.ticks.last_run = last_run;
+        self.ticks.this_run = this_run;
+    }
 }
 
 impl<'w, T: ?Sized> From<Mut<'w, T>> for Ref<'w, T> {