diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2d3abcf..d7708d9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -101,10 +101,13 @@ clickhousectl local which                   # Show current default
 
 # Remove a version
 clickhousectl local remove 25.12.5.44
+clickhousectl local remove 25.12.5.44 --force   # Stop running servers on this version first
 ```
 
 `local use` also creates a symlink at `~/.local/bin/clickhouse` pointing to the selected version's binary, so the plain `clickhouse` command (e.g. `clickhouse local`, `clickhouse client`) is on PATH. Pass `--no-global` to skip. If a regular file already exists at that path it is left alone with a warning. `local remove` of the active default version also clears the symlink.
 
+`local remove` refuses to delete a version while a local server is running on it (it would leave the server pointing at a deleted binary), failing with the running server names. Stop the server first, or pass `--force` to stop the running server(s) and then remove the version.
+
 #### ClickHouse binary storage
 
 ClickHouse binaries are stored in a global repository, so they can be used by multiple projects without duplicating storage. Binaries are stored in `~/.clickhouse/`:
diff --git a/crates/clickhousectl/src/error.rs b/crates/clickhousectl/src/error.rs
index 50ceb4e..b42bc33 100644
--- a/crates/clickhousectl/src/error.rs
+++ b/crates/clickhousectl/src/error.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ pub enum Error {
     #[error("Version {0} is already installed")]
     VersionAlreadyInstalled(String),
 
+    #[error("Version {version} is in use by running server(s): {servers}. Stop them first, or pass --force.")]
+    VersionInUse { version: String, servers: String },
+
     #[error("Unsupported platform: {os}/{arch}")]
     UnsupportedPlatform { os: String, arch: String },
 
@@ -114,5 +117,13 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(Error::Cloud("boom".into()).exit_code(), 1);
         assert_eq!(Error::NoVersionsInstalled.exit_code(), 1);
         assert_eq!(Error::VersionNotFound("25.12".into()).exit_code(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(
+            Error::VersionInUse {
+                version: "25.12".into(),
+                servers: "default".into(),
+            }
+            .exit_code(),
+            1
+        );
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/clickhousectl/src/local/cli.rs b/crates/clickhousectl/src/local/cli.rs
index d5f08a5..906fc5a 100644
--- a/crates/clickhousectl/src/local/cli.rs
+++ b/crates/clickhousectl/src/local/cli.rs
@@ -61,10 +61,16 @@ CONTEXT FOR AGENTS:
   Removes an installed ClickHouse version from ~/.clickhouse/versions/.
   Takes an exact version string as shown by `clickhousectl local list` (e.g., \"25.12.5.44\").
   Does NOT accept keywords like \"stable\" — use the exact version number.
+  Fails if a local server is currently running on this version; stop it first, or pass
+  --force to stop the running server(s) before removing.
   Related: `clickhousectl local list` to see installed versions.")]
     Remove {
         /// Version to remove
         version: String,
+
+        /// Stop any running servers using this version, then remove it
+        #[arg(long)]
+        force: bool,
     },
 
     /// Show the current default version
@@ -450,6 +456,27 @@ mod tests {
         local.command
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_remove_without_force() {
+        let LocalCommands::Remove { version, force } = local_command(&["remove", "25.12.5.44"])
+        else {
+            panic!("expected remove");
+        };
+        assert_eq!(version, "25.12.5.44");
+        assert!(!force);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_remove_with_force() {
+        let LocalCommands::Remove { version, force } =
+            local_command(&["remove", "25.12.5.44", "--force"])
+        else {
+            panic!("expected remove");
+        };
+        assert_eq!(version, "25.12.5.44");
+        assert!(force);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn parses_server_start_config_file() {
         let LocalCommands::Server {
diff --git a/crates/clickhousectl/src/local/mod.rs b/crates/clickhousectl/src/local/mod.rs
index e94cdc5..4da1a6a 100644
--- a/crates/clickhousectl/src/local/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/clickhousectl/src/local/mod.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ pub async fn run(cmd: LocalCommands, json: bool) -> Result<()> {
             }
         }
         LocalCommands::Use { version, no_global } => use_version(&version, no_global, json).await,
-        LocalCommands::Remove { version } => remove(&version, json),
+        LocalCommands::Remove { version, force } => remove(&version, force, json),
         LocalCommands::Which => which(json),
         LocalCommands::Init => {
             init::init()?;
@@ -175,13 +175,37 @@ async fn use_version(version_spec: &str, no_global: bool, json: bool) -> Result<
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn remove(version: &str, json: bool) -> Result<()> {
+fn remove(version: &str, force: bool, json: bool) -> Result<()> {
     let version_dir = paths::version_dir(version)?;
 
     if !version_dir.exists() {
         return Err(Error::VersionNotFound(version.to_string()));
     }
 
+    // Recover orphaned servers so we detect a running process even when its
+    // metadata file is missing, then refuse to pull the binary out from under
+    // a server running on this version.
+    server::recover_current_project_servers();
+    let in_use: Vec<String> = server::list_running_servers()
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter(|i| i.version == version)
+        .map(|i| i.name)
+        .collect();
+    if !in_use.is_empty() {
+        if !force {
+            return Err(Error::VersionInUse {
+                version: version.to_string(),
+                servers: in_use.join(", "),
+            });
+        }
+        for name in &in_use {
+            server::kill_server(name)?;
+            if !json {
+                println!("Stopped server '{}'", name);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     // Check if this is the default version
     if let Ok(default) = version_manager::get_default_version()
         && default == version