diff --git a/doc/src/shell.rst b/doc/src/shell.rst
index 19a8e1afe3..6ebd9e2abf 100644
--- a/doc/src/shell.rst
+++ b/doc/src/shell.rst
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ Syntax
        *mv* args = old new
          old = old filename
          new = new filename or destination folder
-       *rm* args = file1 file2 ...
+       *rm* args = [-f] file1 file2 ...
+         -f = turn off warnings (optional)
          file1,file2 = one or more filenames to delete
        *rmdir* args = dir1 dir2 ...
          dir1,dir2 = one or more directories to delete
diff --git a/src/input.cpp b/src/input.cpp
index c504210211..689c016b68 100644
--- a/src/input.cpp
+++ b/src/input.cpp
@@ -1218,10 +1218,17 @@ void Input::shell()
   } else if (strcmp(arg[0],"rm") == 0) {
     if (narg < 2) error->all(FLERR,"Illegal shell rm command");
     if (me == 0) {
-      for (int i = 1; i < narg; i++) {
+      int i = 1;
+      bool warn = true;
+      if (strcmp(arg[i], "-f") == 0) {
+        warn = false;
+        ++i;
+      }
+      for (;i < narg; i++) {
         if (platform::unlink(arg[i]) < 0)
-          error->warning(FLERR, "Shell command 'rm {}' failed with error '{}'",
-                         arg[i], utils::getsyserror());
+          if (warn)
+            error->warning(FLERR, "Shell command 'rm {}' failed with error '{}'",
+                           arg[i], utils::getsyserror());
       }
     }
   } else if (strcmp(arg[0],"rmdir") == 0) {