diff --git a/docs/manifest-format.txt b/docs/manifest-format.txt
index 5c014d6d..562e66e2 100644
--- a/docs/manifest-format.txt
+++ b/docs/manifest-format.txt
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ following DTD:
 <!DOCTYPE manifest [
   <!ELEMENT manifest (remote*,
                       default?,
+                      remove-project*,
                       project*,
                       add-remote*)>
 
@@ -47,6 +48,9 @@ following DTD:
   <!ATTLIST add-remote fetch        CDATA #REQUIRED>
   <!ATTLIST add-remote review       CDATA #IMPLIED>
   <!ATTLIST add-remote project-name CDATA #IMPLIED>
+
+  <!ELEMENT remove-project (EMPTY)>
+  <!ATTLIST remove-project name  CDATA #REQUIRED>
 ]>
 
 A description of the elements and their attributes follows.
@@ -155,6 +159,18 @@ the majority of the project's object database to be obtained through
 these additional remotes.
 
 
+Element remove-project
+----------------------
+
+Deletes the named project from the internal manifest table, possibly
+allowing a subsequent project element in the same manifest file to
+replace the project with a different source.
+
+This element is mostly useful in the local_manifest.xml, where
+the user can remove a project, and possibly replace it with their
+own definition.
+
+
 Local Manifest
 ==============
 
diff --git a/manifest.py b/manifest.py
index 9137371f..32a7e513 100644
--- a/manifest.py
+++ b/manifest.py
@@ -137,6 +137,16 @@ class Manifest(object):
             "no <manifest> in %s" % \
             self.manifestFile
 
+    for node in config.childNodes:
+      if node.nodeName == 'remove-project':
+        name = self._reqatt(node, 'name')
+        try:
+          del self._projects[name]
+        except KeyError:
+          raise ManifestParseError, \
+                'project %s not found' % \
+                (name)
+
     for node in config.childNodes:
       if node.nodeName == 'remote':
         remote = self._ParseRemote(node)