diff --git a/bench/bench.py b/bench/bench.py
index 0f8d8f627..4aea84b38 100644
--- a/bench/bench.py
+++ b/bench/bench.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 # imports - module imports
 import bench
-from bench.exceptions import ValidationError
+from bench.exceptions import AppNotInstalledError, InvalidRemoteException
 from bench.config.common_site_config import setup_config
 from bench.utils import (
 	paths_in_bench,
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def run(self, cmd, cwd=None):
 class Validator:
 	def validate_app_uninstall(self, app):
 		if app not in self.apps:
-			raise ValidationError(f"No app named {app}")
+			raise AppNotInstalledError(f"No app named {app}")
 		validate_app_installed_on_sites(app, bench_path=self.name)
 
 
@@ -119,11 +119,16 @@ def install(self, app, branch=None):
 		self.apps.append(app)
 		self.apps.sync()
 
-	def uninstall(self, app):
+	def uninstall(self, app, no_backup=False, force=False):
 		from bench.app import App
 
-		self.validate_app_uninstall(app)
-		self.apps.remove(App(app, bench=self, to_clone=False))
+		if not force:
+			self.validate_app_uninstall(app)
+		try:
+			self.apps.remove(App(app, bench=self, to_clone=False), no_backup=no_backup)
+		except InvalidRemoteException:
+			if not force:
+				raise
 		self.apps.sync()
 		# self.build() - removed because it seems unnecessary
 		self.reload()
@@ -305,9 +310,10 @@ def add(self, app: "App"):
 		super().append(app.repo)
 		self.apps.sort()
 
-	def remove(self, app: "App"):
+	def remove(self, app: "App", no_backup: bool = False):
 		app.uninstall()
-		app.remove()
+		if not no_backup:
+			app.remove()
 		super().remove(app.repo)
 
 	def append(self, app: "App"):
diff --git a/bench/commands/make.py b/bench/commands/make.py
index ac48f410a..8fe6382ba 100755
--- a/bench/commands/make.py
+++ b/bench/commands/make.py
@@ -180,12 +180,14 @@ def new_app(app_name, no_git=None):
 		"Completely remove app from bench and re-build assets if not installed on any site"
 	),
 )
+@click.option("--no-backup", is_flag=True, help="Do not backup app before removing")
+@click.option("--force", is_flag=True, help="Force remove app")
 @click.argument("app-name")
-def remove_app(app_name):
+def remove_app(app_name, no_backup=False, force=False):
 	from bench.bench import Bench
 
 	bench = Bench(".")
-	bench.uninstall(app_name)
+	bench.uninstall(app_name, no_backup=no_backup, force=force)
 
 
 @click.command("exclude-app", help="Exclude app from updating")
diff --git a/bench/exceptions.py b/bench/exceptions.py
index b33409154..48cb66688 100644
--- a/bench/exceptions.py
+++ b/bench/exceptions.py
@@ -21,9 +21,15 @@ class BenchNotFoundError(Exception):
 class ValidationError(Exception):
 	pass
 
+
+class AppNotInstalledError(ValidationError):
+	pass
+
+
 class CannotUpdateReleaseBench(ValidationError):
 	pass
 
+
 class FeatureDoesNotExistError(CommandFailedError):
 	pass
 
diff --git a/bench/utils/__init__.py b/bench/utils/__init__.py
index cacee9fb6..857468771 100644
--- a/bench/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/bench/utils/__init__.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # imports - module imports
 from bench import PROJECT_NAME, VERSION
 
-from bench.exceptions import CommandFailedError, InvalidRemoteException, ValidationError
+from bench.exceptions import CommandFailedError, InvalidRemoteException, AppNotInstalledError
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(PROJECT_NAME)
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ def set_git_remote_url(git_url, bench_path="."):
 	app = git_url.rsplit("/", 1)[1].rsplit(".", 1)[0]
 
 	if app not in Bench(bench_path).apps:
-		raise ValidationError(f"No app named {app}")
+		raise AppNotInstalledError(f"No app named {app}")
 
 	app_dir = get_repo_dir(app, bench_path=bench_path)