diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0ac999e..0abd6a7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 ## 0.6 (Unreleased)
 
+### Added
+
+- Choose the model for a table explicitly with `model_classes`, or opt in to
+  preferring the conventionally named model with `prefer_conventional_models`,
+  when scripts or backfills define their own models for an existing table.
+  `AmbiguousModelError` names both settings
+  ([#135](https://github.com/rdy/fixture_builder/issues/135)).
+
 ### Changed
 
 - Require Ruby 3.3 or newer and Rails, Active Record, and Active Support 8.0 or
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 28c2a5e..07a41ae 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -287,6 +287,28 @@ same connection pool, and has usable primary keys. Models defined inside a
 migration class, such as the throwaway models data migrations use, are ignored.
 Independent eligible models that share a table raise `AmbiguousModelError`.
 
+Scripts, rake tasks, and one-off backfills sometimes define their own model for
+an existing table, which makes that table ambiguous once the application is
+loaded. Choose the model for such a table explicitly, by class or class name:
+
+```ruby
+FixtureBuilder.configure do |fbuilder|
+  fbuilder.model_classes = {"widgets" => "Widget"}
+end
+```
+
+A mapped model must pass the same eligibility checks. Alternatively, opt in to
+choosing the conventionally named model (`table_name.classify`) whenever exactly
+one of the ambiguous models has that name:
+
+```ruby
+FixtureBuilder.configure do |fbuilder|
+  fbuilder.prefer_conventional_models = true
+end
+```
+
+Without either setting, ambiguity keeps raising.
+
 FixtureBuilder writes Rails-native metadata for every model-backed file, so
 Rails can select the model without a separate fixture-class mapping. This also
 supports conventionally named models, namespaced models, and the root model for
diff --git a/lib/fixture_builder/ambiguous_model_error.rb b/lib/fixture_builder/ambiguous_model_error.rb
index 0dd55dc..dae764f 100644
--- a/lib/fixture_builder/ambiguous_model_error.rb
+++ b/lib/fixture_builder/ambiguous_model_error.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,10 @@ class AmbiguousModelError < StandardError
     def initialize(table_name, models)
       @table_name = table_name
       @models = models.sort_by(&:name)
-      super("Multiple models match table #{table_name}: #{@models.map(&:name).join(", ")}")
+      super(
+        "Multiple models match table #{table_name}: #{@models.map(&:name).join(", ")}. " \
+        "Choose one with model_classes, or set prefer_conventional_models to use the conventionally named model."
+      )
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/fixture_builder/builder.rb b/lib/fixture_builder/builder.rb
index 6887e8b..9b58369 100644
--- a/lib/fixture_builder/builder.rb
+++ b/lib/fixture_builder/builder.rb
@@ -128,7 +128,11 @@ def dump_tables
     private
 
     def resolve_models_by_table
-      resolver = ModelResolver.new(connection_pool: ActiveRecord::Base.connection_pool)
+      resolver = ModelResolver.new(
+        connection_pool: ActiveRecord::Base.connection_pool,
+        model_classes: model_classes,
+        prefer_conventional_models: prefer_conventional_models
+      )
       tables.each_with_object({}) do |table_name, models_by_table|
         models_by_table[table_name] = resolver.resolve(table_name)
       end
diff --git a/lib/fixture_builder/configuration.rb b/lib/fixture_builder/configuration.rb
index 018d0bc..03d4a96 100644
--- a/lib/fixture_builder/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/fixture_builder/configuration.rb
@@ -16,8 +16,10 @@ class Configuration
 
     ACCESSIBLE_ATTRIBUTES = %i[select_sql delete_sql skip_tables files_to_check record_name_fields
       fixture_builder_file fixture_directory after_build legacy_fixtures model_name_procs
-      write_empty_files].freeze
-    attr_accessor :after_build, :legacy_fixtures, :model_name_procs, :write_empty_files
+      write_empty_files model_classes prefer_conventional_models].freeze
+    attr_accessor :after_build, :legacy_fixtures, :model_name_procs, :write_empty_files,
+      :prefer_conventional_models
+    attr_reader :model_classes
     attr_writer :skip_tables, :record_name_fields, :fixture_builder_file, :fixture_directory
 
     SCHEMA_FILES = ["db/schema.rb", "db/development_structure.sql", "db/test_structure.sql",
@@ -28,6 +30,14 @@ def initialize(options = {})
       self.use_sha1_digests = options[:use_sha1_digests] if options.key?(:use_sha1_digests)
       @file_hashes = file_hashes
       @write_empty_files = true
+      @model_classes = {}
+      @prefer_conventional_models = false
+    end
+
+    # Maps table names to the model each table's fixtures use, by class or class
+    # name, overriding model discovery for those tables.
+    def model_classes=(mapping)
+      @model_classes = mapping.to_h.transform_keys(&:to_s)
     end
 
     def include(*args)
diff --git a/lib/fixture_builder/model_resolver.rb b/lib/fixture_builder/model_resolver.rb
index 4a95e5b..df73a03 100644
--- a/lib/fixture_builder/model_resolver.rb
+++ b/lib/fixture_builder/model_resolver.rb
@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@
 
 module FixtureBuilder
   class ModelResolver
-    def initialize(connection_pool:)
+    def initialize(connection_pool:, model_classes: {}, prefer_conventional_models: false)
       @connection_pool = connection_pool
+      @model_classes = model_classes.to_h.transform_keys(&:to_s)
+      @prefer_conventional_models = prefer_conventional_models
     end
 
     def resolve(table_name)
+      return mapped_model(table_name) if @model_classes.key?(table_name)
+
       # Prime conventional autoloading before considering already-loaded models.
       table_name.classify.safe_constantize
       candidates = ActiveRecord::Base.descendants.select do |model|
@@ -19,11 +23,23 @@ def resolve(table_name)
       return if root_models.empty?
       return root_models.first if root_models.one?
 
+      conventional_model = root_models.find { |model| model.name == table_name.classify }
+      return conventional_model if @prefer_conventional_models && conventional_model
+
       raise AmbiguousModelError.new(table_name, root_models)
     end
 
     private
 
+    def mapped_model(table_name)
+      mapping = @model_classes.fetch(table_name)
+      model = mapping.is_a?(Module) ? mapping : mapping.to_s.constantize
+      return model if model < ActiveRecord::Base && eligible_model?(model, table_name)
+
+      raise ArgumentError, "model_classes maps #{table_name} to #{model.name}, which is not an eligible model " \
+        "for that table: it must be concrete, named, use the table on the same connection, and have a primary key"
+    end
+
     def eligible_model?(model, table_name)
       return false if model.abstract_class?
 
diff --git a/test/model_resolver/ambiguous_model_error_test.rb b/test/model_resolver/ambiguous_model_error_test.rb
index e8441bf..fed94a2 100644
--- a/test/model_resolver/ambiguous_model_error_test.rb
+++ b/test/model_resolver/ambiguous_model_error_test.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ def test_ambiguous_model_error_exposes_its_table_name_and_models
       assert_equal "creatures", error.table_name
       assert_equal [generated_creature, magical_creature], error.models
       assert_equal(
-        "Multiple models match table creatures: GeneratedCreature, MagicalCreature",
+        "Multiple models match table creatures: GeneratedCreature, MagicalCreature. " \
+          "Choose one with model_classes, or set prefer_conventional_models to use the conventionally named model.",
         error.message
       )
     end
diff --git a/test/model_resolver/conventional_preference_test.rb b/test/model_resolver/conventional_preference_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2423ca3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/model_resolver/conventional_preference_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require_relative "../test_helper"
+
+module ModelResolverTests
+  class ConventionalPreferenceTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
+    prepend IsolatedFixtureFilesystem
+
+    with_table :gizmos do |table|
+      table.string :name
+    end
+
+    with_model :Gizmo do
+      table(false)
+
+      model do
+        self.table_name = "gizmos"
+      end
+    end
+
+    with_model :Widget do
+      table { |table| table.string :name }
+    end
+
+    def setup
+      gizmo_backfill = Class.new
+      ModelResolverTests.const_set(:GizmoBackfill, gizmo_backfill)
+      gizmo_backfill.const_set(:GizmoRow, Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base) { self.table_name = "gizmos" })
+
+      widget_backfill = Class.new
+      ModelResolverTests.const_set(:WidgetBackfill, widget_backfill)
+      widget_table = Widget.table_name
+      widget_backfill.const_set(:WidgetRow, Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base) { self.table_name = widget_table })
+    end
+
+    def teardown
+      %i[GizmoBackfill WidgetBackfill].each do |name|
+        ModelResolverTests.send(:remove_const, name) if ModelResolverTests.const_defined?(name, false)
+      end
+    end
+
+    def test_conventional_models_are_not_preferred_by_default
+      assert_raise(FixtureBuilder::AmbiguousModelError) { resolve_model("gizmos") }
+    end
+
+    def test_preference_chooses_the_conventionally_named_model
+      assert_equal Gizmo, resolve_model("gizmos", prefer_conventional_models: true)
+    end
+
+    def test_preference_still_raises_without_a_conventionally_named_model
+      assert_raise(FixtureBuilder::AmbiguousModelError) do
+        resolve_model(Widget.table_name, prefer_conventional_models: true)
+      end
+    end
+
+    def test_configured_preference_applies_to_the_build
+      force_fixture_generation
+
+      FixtureBuilder.configure do |fbuilder|
+        fbuilder.files_to_check = []
+        fbuilder.skip_tables = ActiveRecord::Base.connection.tables - ["gizmos"]
+        fbuilder.prefer_conventional_models = true
+        fbuilder.factory { Gizmo.create!(name: "Flux capacitor") }
+      end
+
+      fixture = YAML.safe_load_file(fixture_path("gizmos.yml"))
+      assert_equal({"model_class" => "Gizmo"}, fixture["_fixture"])
+    end
+
+    private
+
+    def resolve_model(table_name, **options)
+      FixtureBuilder::ModelResolver.new(connection_pool: ActiveRecord::Base.connection_pool, **options).resolve(table_name)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/model_resolver/model_classes_test.rb b/test/model_resolver/model_classes_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7af69b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/model_resolver/model_classes_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require_relative "../test_helper"
+
+module ModelResolverTests
+  class ModelClassesTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
+    prepend IsolatedFixtureFilesystem
+
+    with_model :Widget do
+      table { |table| table.string :name }
+    end
+
+    with_model :Gadget do
+      table { |table| table.string :name }
+    end
+
+    def setup
+      # Scripts and one-off backfills often define a row model for an existing
+      # table, which makes the table ambiguous once the application is loaded.
+      backfill = Class.new
+      ModelResolverTests.const_set(:WidgetBackfill, backfill)
+      table_name = Widget.table_name
+      backfill.const_set(:WidgetRow, Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base) { self.table_name = table_name })
+    end
+
+    def teardown
+      ModelResolverTests.send(:remove_const, :WidgetBackfill) if ModelResolverTests.const_defined?(:WidgetBackfill, false)
+    end
+
+    def test_unrelated_models_for_one_table_raise_by_default
+      error = assert_raise(FixtureBuilder::AmbiguousModelError) { resolve_model(Widget.table_name) }
+
+      assert_match "model_classes", error.message
+    end
+
+    def test_model_classes_chooses_the_mapped_model
+      assert_equal Widget, resolve_model(Widget.table_name, model_classes: {Widget.table_name => "Widget"})
+    end
+
+    def test_configured_model_classes_apply_to_the_build
+      table_name = Widget.table_name
+      force_fixture_generation
+
+      FixtureBuilder.configure do |fbuilder|
+        fbuilder.files_to_check = []
+        fbuilder.skip_tables = ActiveRecord::Base.connection.tables - [table_name]
+        fbuilder.model_classes = {table_name.to_sym => Widget}
+        fbuilder.factory { Widget.create!(name: "Sprocket") }
+      end
+
+      fixture = YAML.safe_load_file(fixture_path("#{table_name}.yml"))
+      assert_equal({"model_class" => "Widget"}, fixture["_fixture"])
+    end
+
+    def test_a_mapped_model_for_another_table_raises
+      error = assert_raise(ArgumentError) do
+        resolve_model(Widget.table_name, model_classes: {Widget.table_name => "Gadget"})
+      end
+
+      assert_match "Gadget", error.message
+    end
+
+    private
+
+    def resolve_model(table_name, **options)
+      FixtureBuilder::ModelResolver.new(connection_pool: ActiveRecord::Base.connection_pool, **options).resolve(table_name)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/support/model_resolver_ambiguity_behavior.rb b/test/support/model_resolver_ambiguity_behavior.rb
index a56faf7..6443836 100644
--- a/test/support/model_resolver_ambiguity_behavior.rb
+++ b/test/support/model_resolver_ambiguity_behavior.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ def test_unrelated_models_raise_before_replacing_the_fixture
         assert_equal table_name, error.table_name
         assert_equal %w[Alpha Beta], error.models.map(&:name)
         assert_equal(
-          "Multiple models match table #{table_name}: Alpha, Beta",
+          "Multiple models match table #{table_name}: Alpha, Beta. " \
+            "Choose one with model_classes, or set prefer_conventional_models to use the conventionally named model.",
           error.message
         )
         assert_equal original_fixture, File.binread(fixture_path)