diff --git a/pkg/cluster/createoption.go b/pkg/cluster/createoption.go
index b93ab55307..352adf984e 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/createoption.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/createoption.go
@@ -94,6 +94,14 @@ func CreateWithAvoidCreation(avoidCreation bool) CreateOption {
 	})
 }
 
+// CreateWithWaitForceDelete removes local cluster container
+func CreateWithForceDelete(forceDelete bool) CreateOption {
+	return createOptionAdapter(func(o *internalcreate.ClusterOptions) error {
+		o.ForceDelete = forceDelete
+		return nil
+	})
+}
+
 // CreateWithWaitForReady configures a maximum wait time for the control plane
 // node(s) to be ready. By default no waiting is performed
 func CreateWithWaitForReady(waitTime time.Duration) CreateOption {
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/create.go b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/create.go
index 9311700d35..24986bb447 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/internal/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/internal/create/create.go
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ type ClusterOptions struct {
 	DescriptorPath string
 	MoveManagement bool
 	AvoidCreation  bool
+	// Force local container delete before creating the cluster if it already exists
+	ForceDelete bool
 	// NodeImage overrides the nodes' images in Config if non-zero
 	NodeImage      string
 	Retain         bool
@@ -85,7 +87,13 @@ func Cluster(logger log.Logger, p providers.Provider, opts *ClusterOptions) erro
 
 	// Check if the cluster name already exists
 	if err := alreadyExists(p, opts.Config.Name); err != nil {
-		return err
+		if opts.ForceDelete {
+			// Delete current cluster container
+			_ = delete.Cluster(nil, p, opts.Config.Name, "")
+		} else {
+			return errors.Errorf("A cluster with the name %q already exists \n"+
+				"Please use a different cluster name or delete the current container with --delete-previous flag", opts.Config.Name)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// warn if cluster name might typically be too long
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/kind/create/cluster/createcluster.go b/pkg/cmd/kind/create/cluster/createcluster.go
index cc2cb789bc..9d486deed6 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/kind/create/cluster/createcluster.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/kind/create/cluster/createcluster.go
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ type flagpole struct {
 	DescriptorPath string
 	MoveManagement bool
 	AvoidCreation  bool
+	ForceDelete    bool
 }
 
 const clusterDefaultPath = "./cluster.yaml"
@@ -132,6 +133,12 @@ func NewCommand(logger log.Logger, streams cmd.IOStreams) *cobra.Command {
 		false,
 		"by setting this flag the worker cluster won't be created",
 	)
+	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(
+		&flags.ForceDelete,
+		"delete-previous",
+		false,
+		"by setting this flag the local cluster will be deleted",
+	)
 
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -197,6 +204,7 @@ func runE(logger log.Logger, streams cmd.IOStreams, flags *flagpole) error {
 		cluster.CreateWithRetain(flags.Retain),
 		cluster.CreateWithMove(flags.MoveManagement),
 		cluster.CreateWithAvoidCreation(flags.AvoidCreation),
+		cluster.CreateWithForceDelete(flags.ForceDelete),
 		cluster.CreateWithWaitForReady(flags.Wait),
 		cluster.CreateWithKubeconfigPath(flags.Kubeconfig),
 		cluster.CreateWithDisplayUsage(true),