diff --git a/src/callinput.c b/src/callinput.c
index 1a7a4cd5..5db5e5c8 100644
--- a/src/callinput.c
+++ b/src/callinput.c
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@
 #include "time_update.h"
 #include "trx_memory.h"
 #include "ui_utils.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 #include "showzones.h"
 #include "bands.h"
 #include "fldigixmlrpc.h"
@@ -85,7 +86,6 @@ typedef enum { STORE_OR_POP, POP, SWAP } memory_op_t;
 
 void send_bandswitch(freq_t freq);
 int autosend(void);
-bool plain_number(char *str);
 void handle_bandswitch(int direction);
 void handle_memory_operation(memory_op_t op);
 
@@ -877,30 +877,6 @@ bool valid_call_char(int ch) {
 	   || ch == '/';
 }
 
-/** check if string is plain number
- *
- * Check if string contains only digits
- * \param str    the string to check
- * \return true  if only digits inside
- *         false contains at least one non-digit or it's an empty string
- */
-bool plain_number(char *str) {
-    int i;
-
-    if (strlen(str) == 0) {
-	return false;
-    }
-
-    for (i = 0; i < strlen(str); i++) {
-	if (!isdigit(str[i])) {
-	    return false;
-	}
-    }
-
-    return true;
-}
-
-
 /** autosend function
  *
  * autosend allow an operator in RUN mode to just enter the call of the
diff --git a/src/callinput.h b/src/callinput.h
index 817e8fee..776f00e3 100644
--- a/src/callinput.h
+++ b/src/callinput.h
@@ -28,6 +28,5 @@
 int callinput(void);
 void send_bandswitch(freq_t freq);
 bool valid_call_char(int ch);
-bool plain_number(char *str);
 
 #endif /* CALLINPUT_H */
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index b7438ef7..0ed137bf 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -693,6 +693,8 @@ static void init_variables() {
 #ifdef HAVE_PYTHON
     FREE_DYNAMIC_STRING(plugin_config);
 #endif
+
+    init_contests();
 }
 
 /** load all databases
diff --git a/src/parse_logcfg.c b/src/parse_logcfg.c
index 1a07f9c6..d9f68dce 100644
--- a/src/parse_logcfg.c
+++ b/src/parse_logcfg.c
@@ -1304,6 +1304,7 @@ static config_t logcfg_configs[] = {
     {"USEPARTIALS",	    CFG_BOOL(use_part)},
     {"PARTIALS",	    CFG_BOOL(partials)},
     {"RECALL_MULTS",	    CFG_CONTEST_BOOL(recall_mult)},
+    {"RECALL_NUMERIC_EXCHANGES",      CFG_CONTEST_BOOL(recall_numeric_exchanges)},
     {"WYSIWYG_MULTIBAND",   CFG_BOOL(wysiwyg_multi)},
     {"WYSIWYG_ONCE",	    CFG_BOOL(wysiwyg_once)},
     {"RIT_CLEAR",	    CFG_BOOL(rit)},
diff --git a/src/recall_exchange.c b/src/recall_exchange.c
index 3485e413..fc39f462 100644
--- a/src/recall_exchange.c
+++ b/src/recall_exchange.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "tlf.h"
 #include "tlf_curses.h"
 #include "setcontest.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 
 
 /** \brief Recall former exchange or lookup initial exchange file
@@ -63,6 +64,13 @@ int get_proposed_exchange(void) {
 	}
     }
 
+    if (found == 1 &&
+	    !contest->recall_numeric_exchanges && plain_number(proposed_exchange)) {
+	// do not recall numeric exchanges
+	proposed_exchange[0] = 0;
+	found = -1;
+    }
+
     if (found == -1) {
 
 	/* if no exchange could be recycled and no comment available
diff --git a/src/sendqrg.c b/src/sendqrg.c
index 57d02508..890f5286 100644
--- a/src/sendqrg.c
+++ b/src/sendqrg.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 
 #include "bands.h"
-#include "callinput.h"
+#include "utils.h"
 #include "cw_utils.h"
 #include "err_utils.h"
 #include "hamlib_keyer.h"
diff --git a/src/setcontest.c b/src/setcontest.c
index efe1ed04..5a2939fc 100644
--- a/src/setcontest.c
+++ b/src/setcontest.c
@@ -297,9 +297,19 @@ contest_config_t *lookup_contest(char *name) {
 }
 
 
+/** initalize contests
+ *
+ */
+void init_contests() {
+    for (int i = 0; i < NR_CONTESTS; i++) {
+	contest_configs[i]->recall_numeric_exchanges = true;
+    }
+}
+
+
 /** show a list of supported/hard-coded contests
  *
- * works out of ncurses context for 'tlf -l' i
+ * works out of ncurses context for 'tlf -l'
  */
 void list_contests() {
     puts(
diff --git a/src/setcontest.h b/src/setcontest.h
index 964be8ff..e1a8a772 100644
--- a/src/setcontest.h
+++ b/src/setcontest.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 extern contest_config_t config_qso;
 
+void init_contests();
 bool general_ismulti(spot *data);
 contest_config_t *lookup_contest(char *name);
 void list_contests();
diff --git a/src/tlf.h b/src/tlf.h
index 3fb4ab5a..76a14bd3 100644
--- a/src/tlf.h
+++ b/src/tlf.h
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ typedef struct {
     contest_type_t	id;
     char		*name;
     bool		recall_mult;
+    bool		recall_numeric_exchanges;
     bool		exchange_serial;
     int                 exchange_width;
     struct {
diff --git a/src/utils.c b/src/utils.c
index 051a88ee..8c217c73 100644
--- a/src/utils.c
+++ b/src/utils.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
  * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA
  */
 
+#include <ctype.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
@@ -233,3 +234,27 @@ void get_partial_callsign(char *call1, char *call2, char *partial) {
     free_call_parts(cp1);
     free_call_parts(cp2);
 }
+
+/** check if string is plain number
+ *
+ * Check if string contains only digits
+ * \param str    the string to check
+ * \return true  if only digits inside
+ *         false contains at least one non-digit or it's an empty string
+ */
+bool plain_number(char *str) {
+    int i;
+
+    if (strlen(str) == 0) {
+	return false;
+    }
+
+    for (i = 0; i < strlen(str); i++) {
+	if (!isdigit(str[i])) {
+	    return false;
+	}
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/utils.h b/src/utils.h
index fa53d138..f44c7975 100644
--- a/src/utils.h
+++ b/src/utils.h
@@ -26,5 +26,6 @@
 bool check_qra(char *qra);
 char *find_available(char *filename);
 void get_partial_callsign(char *call1, char *call2, char *partial);
+bool plain_number(char *str);
 
 #endif /* UTILS_H */
diff --git a/test/test_recallexchange.c b/test/test_recallexchange.c
index 117495b6..07f51bd3 100644
--- a/test/test_recallexchange.c
+++ b/test/test_recallexchange.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 // OBJECT ../src/recall_exchange.o
 // OBJECT ../src/initial_exchange.o
+// OBJECT ../src/utils.o
 
 contest_config_t config_any = {
     .id = 123,
diff --git a/tlf.1.in b/tlf.1.in
index af718d05..d5d62793 100644
--- a/tlf.1.in
+++ b/tlf.1.in
@@ -3075,7 +3075,20 @@ Multiplier is DXCC country or section from multiplier file.
 .B RECALL_MULTS
 Exchange can be recycled, will be filled into exchange field when it is known
 (see also
-.BR INITIAL_EXCHANGE ).
+.BR INITIAL_EXCHANGE
+and
+.BR RECALL_NUMERIC_EXCHANGES ).
+.
+.TP
+\fBRECALL_NUMERIC_EXCHANGES\fR[=<\fION\fR|\fIOFF\fR>]
+Controls whether all-numeric exchanges (like serial or zone number) shall be
+recalled when using
+.BR RECALL_MULTS .
+Default is \fION\fR, meaning that numeric exchanges are also recalled.
+If set to \fIOFF\fR then numeric exchanges are not recalled.
+This setting can be useful in contests where
+a group of stations send fixed non-numeric exchanges
+(county or DOK, for example) and the rest sent serial number.
 .
 .TP
 \fBINITIAL_EXCHANGE\fR=\fIexchanges.txt\fR