diff --git a/client/equo.py b/client/equo.py
index 82fb392d7..acedd3b56 100644
--- a/client/equo.py
+++ b/client/equo.py
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ help_opts = [
     (2, '--deep', 2, _('also pull unused dependencies where reverse deps list is empty')),
     (2, '--empty', 2, _('when used with --deep, helps the removal of virtual packages')),
     (2, '--configfiles', 1, _('makes configuration files to be removed')),
+    (2, '--force-system', 1, _('dangerous: forces system packages removal, do not use this!')),
     (2, '--resume', 1, _('resume previously interrupted operations')),
     None,
     (1, 'mask', 2, _('mask one or more packages')),
diff --git a/client/text_ui.py b/client/text_ui.py
index 43a72c0dc..ea195d5a5 100644
--- a/client/text_ui.py
+++ b/client/text_ui.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ def package(options):
     e_req_dump = False
     e_req_bdeps = False
     e_req_recursive = True
+    e_req_system_packages_check = True
     e_req_multifetch = 1
     rc = 0
     _myopts = []
@@ -97,6 +98,8 @@ def package(options):
             e_req_listfiles = True
         elif (opt == "--configfiles"):
             e_req_config_files = True
+        elif (opt == "--force-system"):
+            e_req_system_packages_check = False
         elif (opt == "--replay"):
             e_req_replay = True
         elif (opt == "--resume"):
@@ -225,6 +228,7 @@ def package(options):
                 packages = myopts, deps = e_req_deps,
                 deep = e_req_deep, remove_config_files = e_req_config_files,
                 resume = e_req_resume, recursive = e_req_recursive,
+                system_packages_check = e_req_system_packages_check,
                 empty = e_req_empty_deps)
             else:
                 print_error(red(" %s." % (_("Nothing to do"),) ))
@@ -1741,8 +1745,7 @@ def remove_packages(entropy_client, packages = None, atomsdata = None,
     if atomsdata is None:
         atomsdata = []
 
-    # check if I am root
-    if (not entropy.tools.is_root()):
+    if not entropy.tools.is_root():
         mytxt = "%s %s %s" % (_("Running with"), bold("--pretend"), red("..."),)
         print_warning(mytxt)
         etpUi['pretend'] = True
@@ -1856,7 +1859,7 @@ def remove_packages(entropy_client, packages = None, atomsdata = None,
             try:
                 removal_queue += entropy_client.get_removal_queue(
                     plain_removal_queue, deep = deep, recursive = recursive,
-                    empty = empty)
+                    empty = empty, system_packages = system_packages_check)
             except DependenciesNotRemovable as err:
                 non_rm_pkg_ids = sorted([x[0] for x in err.value],
                     key = lambda x: \
diff --git a/docs/man/equo.pod b/docs/man/equo.pod
index 32d1f7768..d3475de3e 100644
--- a/docs/man/equo.pod
+++ b/docs/man/equo.pod
@@ -406,6 +406,10 @@ when used with --deep, helps the removal of virtual packages
 
 makes configuration files to be removed
 
+=item B<--force-system>
+
+dangerous: forces system packages removal, do not use this
+
 =item B<--resume>
 
 resume previously interrupted operations
diff --git a/docs/man/man1/equo.1 b/docs/man/man1/equo.1
index b69db8502..7c5832ac2 100644
--- a/docs/man/man1/equo.1
+++ b/docs/man/man1/equo.1
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
 .\" ========================================================================
 .\"
 .IX Title "EQUO 1"
-.TH EQUO 1 "2010-06-30" "perl v5.10.1" "Entropy"
+.TH EQUO 1 "2010-07-19" "perl v5.10.1" "Entropy"
 .\" For nroff, turn off justification.  Always turn off hyphenation; it makes
 .\" way too many mistakes in technical documents.
 .if n .ad l
@@ -444,6 +444,9 @@ when used with \-\-deep, helps the removal of virtual packages
 .IP "\fB\-\-configfiles\fR" 4
 .IX Item "--configfiles"
 makes configuration files to be removed
+.IP "\fB\-\-force\-system\fR" 4
+.IX Item "--force-system"
+dangerous: forces system packages removal (passed as arguments)
 .IP "\fB\-\-resume\fR" 4
 .IX Item "--resume"
 resume previously interrupted operations