diff --git a/src/backend/src/filesystem/ll_operations/ll_rmdir.js b/src/backend/src/filesystem/ll_operations/ll_rmdir.js
index e18ad0b1f..08add7c7d 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/filesystem/ll_operations/ll_rmdir.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/filesystem/ll_operations/ll_rmdir.js
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ class LLRmDir extends LLFilesystemOperation {
             actor,
             descendants_only,
             recursive,
+            
+            // internal use only - not for clients
+            ignore_not_empty,
 
             max_tasks = 8,
         } = this.values;
@@ -61,7 +64,7 @@ class LLRmDir extends LLFilesystemOperation {
             await target.get('uid')
         );
 
-        if ( children.length > 0 && ! recursive ) {
+        if ( children.length > 0 && ! recursive && ! ignore_not_empty ) {
             throw APIError.create('not_empty');
         }
 
@@ -100,7 +103,13 @@ class LLRmDir extends LLFilesystemOperation {
 
         await tasks.awaitAll();
         if ( ! descendants_only ) {
-            await target.provider.rmdir({ context, node: target });
+            await target.provider.rmdir({
+                context,
+                node: target,
+                options: {
+                    ignore_not_empty: true,
+                },
+            });
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/src/modules/puterfs/lib/PuterFSProvider.js b/src/backend/src/modules/puterfs/lib/PuterFSProvider.js
index 58bf4355e..0f7ce0518 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/modules/puterfs/lib/PuterFSProvider.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/modules/puterfs/lib/PuterFSProvider.js
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ class PuterFSProvider extends putility.AdvancedBase {
         await this.rmnode_({ context, node });
     }
 
-    async rmdir ({ context, node }) {
+    async rmdir ({ context, node, options = {} }) {
         if ( await node.get('type') !== TYPE_DIRECTORY ) {
             console.log(`\x1B[31;1m===D1====${await node.get('path')}=========\x1B[0m`)
             throw new APIError(409, 'Cannot rmdir a file.');
@@ -386,15 +386,15 @@ class PuterFSProvider extends putility.AdvancedBase {
             await node.get('uid')
         );
 
-        if ( children.length > 0 ) {
+        if ( children.length > 0 && ! options.ignore_not_empty ) {
             console.log(`\x1B[31;1m===D3====${await node.get('path')}=========\x1B[0m`)
             throw APIError.create('not_empty');
         }
 
-        await this.rmnode_({ context, node });
+        await this.rmnode_({ context, node, options });
     }
 
-    async rmnode_ ({ context, node }) {
+    async rmnode_ ({ context, node, options }) {
         // Services
         const services = context.get('services');
         const svc_size = services.get('sizeService');