The invention discloses methods, implantable medical devices, and systems to continue implementing a special mode of operation after experiencing a device reset. According to the invention, an implantable medical device implements a special mode of operation, such as a mode of electrical stimulation therapy, during conditions where there may be an increased likelihood that a device reset will occur. The implantable medical device recovers from the device reset by copying values that specify the special mode and that are stored in a non-volatile memory to an operating memory. The special mode is implemented after the device reset has occurred by using the values copied to the operating memory. One version of the special mode is an MRI mode that allows the implantable medical device to safely operate during an MRI scan. The fields of the MRI scan may trigger a device reset, but the MRI mode values are copied from the non-volatile memory to the operating memory, and the MRI mode is implemented after the reset by using the values copied to the operating memory.