diff --git a/cri_lib/cri_controller.py b/cri_lib/cri_controller.py
index c6df58c..284d9f2 100644
--- a/cri_lib/cri_controller.py
+++ b/cri_lib/cri_controller.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 from .cri_errors import CRICommandError, CRICommandTimeOutError, CRIConnectionError
 from .cri_protocol_parser import CRIProtocolParser
-from .robot_state import KinematicsState, RobotState
+from .robot_state import KinematicsState, ReplayMode, RobotState
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -1355,15 +1355,52 @@ async def load_logic_programm_async(self, program_name: str) -> bool:
         else:
             return True
 
-    async def start_programm_async(self) -> bool:
-        """Start currently loaded Program
+    async def set_replay_mode_async(self, replay_mode: ReplayMode) -> None:
+        """Set the main program replay mode.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        replay_mode
+            Which mode to apply if the ``robot_state`` is not already in it.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        CRICommandError
+            If the ``replay_mode`` could not be applied.
+        """
+        while self.robot_state.main_replay_mode != replay_mode:
+            msg_id = self.send_command(
+                f"CMD ProgramReplayMode {replay_mode.value}", True
+            )
+            if (error_msg := await self._wait_for_answer_async(msg_id)) is not None:
+                raise CRICommandError(f"Could not set replay mode: {error_msg}")
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+
+    async def start_programm_async(
+        self, *, replay_mode: ReplayMode | None = None
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Start currently loaded Program.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        replay_mode
+            Which replay mode to apply before starting.
+            If not provided, the currently set mode is kept.
 
         Returns
         -------
         bool
             `True` if request was successful
             `False` if request was not successful
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        CRICommandError
+            If the ``replay_mode`` could not be applied.
         """
+        if replay_mode is not None:
+            await self.set_replay_mode_async(replay_mode)
+
         command = "CMD StartProgram"
 
         msg_id = self._send_command(command, True)
@@ -1785,9 +1822,11 @@ def load_logic_programm(self, program_name: str) -> bool:
             self.load_logic_programm_async(program_name)
         )
 
-    def start_programm(self) -> bool:
+    def start_programm(self, *, replay_mode: ReplayMode | None = None) -> bool:
         """Blocking wrapper around :func:`CRIController.start_programm_async`."""
-        return asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(self.start_programm_async())
+        return asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(
+            self.start_programm_async(replay_mode=replay_mode)
+        )
 
     def stop_programm(self) -> bool:
         """Blocking wrapper around :func:`CRIController.stop_programm_async`."""