diff --git a/command_line/dials_import.py b/command_line/dials_import.py
index 7ac7a76004..bc4da492b5 100644
--- a/command_line/dials_import.py
+++ b/command_line/dials_import.py
@@ -126,6 +126,24 @@ def _pickle_load(fh):
       .help = "If True, assert the reference geometry is similar to"
               "the image geometry"
 
+    use_beam_reference = True
+      .type = bool
+      .expert_level = 2
+      .help = "If True, the beam from reference_geometry will override "
+              "the beam from the image headers."
+
+    use_gonio_reference = True
+      .type = bool
+      .expert_level = 2
+      .help = "If True, the goniometer from reference_geometry will override "
+              "the goniometer from the image headers."
+
+    use_detector_reference = True
+      .type = bool
+      .expert_level = 2
+      .help = "If True, the detector from reference_geometry will override "
+              "the detector from the image headers."
+
     allow_multiple_sequences = True
       .type = bool
       .help = "If False, raise an error if multiple sequences are found"
@@ -264,9 +282,12 @@ def __call__(self, imageset):
             ), "Reference detector model does not match input detector model"
 
         # Set beam and detector
-        imageset.set_beam(self.reference.beam)
-        imageset.set_detector(self.reference.detector)
-        imageset.set_goniometer(self.reference.goniometer)
+        if self.params.input.use_beam_reference:
+            imageset.set_beam(self.reference.beam)
+        if self.params.input.use_detector_reference:
+            imageset.set_detector(self.reference.detector)
+        if self.params.input.use_gonio_reference:
+            imageset.set_goniometer(self.reference.goniometer)
         return imageset
 
     def load_reference_geometry(self, params):
diff --git a/newsfragments/1371.feature b/newsfragments/1371.feature
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..25424d45e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newsfragments/1371.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+``dials.import``: When using ``reference_models=``, individual
+components of the model can be excluded with ``use_beam_reference=``,
+``use_gonio_reference=`` and ``use_detector_reference=``.
diff --git a/test/command_line/test_import.py b/test/command_line/test_import.py
index a2f282b437..17172f10ad 100644
--- a/test/command_line/test_import.py
+++ b/test/command_line/test_import.py
@@ -8,6 +8,79 @@
 from dxtbx.serialize import load
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("use_beam", ["True", "False"])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("use_gonio", ["True", "False"])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("use_detector", ["True", "False"])
+def test_reference_individual(dials_data, tmpdir, use_beam, use_gonio, use_detector):
+
+    expected_beam = {"True": 3, "False": 0.9795}
+    expected_gonio = {
+        "True": (7, 8, 9, 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3),
+        "False": (1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1),
+    }
+    expected_detector = {"True": "Fake panel", "False": "Panel"}
+
+    # Find the image files
+    image_files = dials_data("centroid_test_data").listdir("centroid*.cbf", sort=True)
+
+    # Create an experiment with some faked geometry items
+    fake_phil = """
+      geometry {
+        beam.wavelength = 3
+        detector.panel.name = "Fake panel"
+        goniometer.fixed_rotation = 7,8,9,4,5,6,1,2,3
+      }
+  """
+    tmpdir.join("fake.phil").write(fake_phil)
+    fake_result = procrunner.run(
+        ["dials.import", "fake.phil", "output.experiments=fake_geometry.expt"]
+        + image_files,
+        working_directory=tmpdir,
+    )
+    assert not fake_result.returncode and not fake_result.stderr
+    assert tmpdir.join("fake_geometry.expt").check(file=1)
+
+    # Write an import phil file
+    import_phil = """
+      input {
+        reference_geometry = fake_geometry.expt
+        check_reference_geometry = False
+        use_beam_reference = %s
+        use_gonio_reference = %s
+        use_detector_reference = %s
+      }
+  """ % (
+        use_beam,
+        use_gonio,
+        use_detector,
+    )
+    tmpdir.join("test_reference_individual.phil").write(import_phil)
+
+    result = procrunner.run(
+        [
+            "dials.import",
+            "test_reference_individual.phil",
+            "output.experiments=reference_geometry.expt",
+        ]
+        + image_files,
+        working_directory=tmpdir,
+    )
+    assert not result.returncode and not result.stderr
+    assert tmpdir.join("reference_geometry.expt").check(file=1)
+
+    experiments = load.experiment_list(tmpdir.join("reference_geometry.expt").strpath)
+    assert experiments[0].identifier != ""
+    imgset = experiments[0].imageset
+
+    beam = imgset.get_beam()
+    goniometer = imgset.get_goniometer()
+    detector = imgset.get_detector()
+
+    assert beam.get_wavelength() == expected_beam[use_beam]
+    assert goniometer.get_fixed_rotation() == expected_gonio[use_gonio]
+    assert detector[0].get_name() == expected_detector[use_detector]
+
+
 def test_multiple_sequence_import_fails_when_not_allowed(dials_data, tmpdir):
     # Find the image files
     image_files = dials_data("centroid_test_data").listdir("centroid*.cbf", sort=True)