diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/code/server/repository_service.ts b/x-pack/plugins/code/server/repository_service.ts
index ccf4d4f21dc2a..a1396c670d01a 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/code/server/repository_service.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/code/server/repository_service.ts
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ export class RepositoryService {
     const localPath = RepositoryUtils.repositoryLocalPath(this.repoVolPath, uri);
     try {
       // For now, just `rm -rf`
-      await del([localPath]);
+      await del([localPath], { force: true });
       this.log.info(`Remove local repository ${uri} done.`);
       return {
         uri,