diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 86c4a66c..41e7a209 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 0.165
-  -
+  - deleterequest for entire projects needs the --all option as additional protection
 
 0.164.1
   - rewrite cpio handling to support python3
diff --git a/osc/commandline.py b/osc/commandline.py
index 30d2824e..244e2847 100644
--- a/osc/commandline.py
+++ b/osc/commandline.py
@@ -1939,6 +1939,8 @@ Please submit there instead, or use --nodevelproject to force direct submission.
                   help='specify message TEXT')
     @cmdln.option('-r', '--repository', metavar='REPOSITORY',
                   help='specify repository')
+    @cmdln.option('--all', action='store_true',
+                        help='deletes entire project with packages inside')
     @cmdln.option('--accept-in-hours', metavar='HOURS',
                   help='specify time when request shall get accepted automatically. Only works with write permissions in target.')
     @cmdln.alias("dr")
@@ -1950,8 +1952,8 @@ Please submit there instead, or use --nodevelproject to force direct submission.
 
         usage:
             osc deletereq [-m TEXT]                     # works in checked out project/package
-            osc deletereq [-m TEXT] PROJECT [PACKAGE]
-            osc deletereq [-m TEXT] PROJECT [--repository REPOSITORY]
+            osc deletereq [-m TEXT] PROJECT PACKAGE
+            osc deletereq [-m TEXT] PROJECT [--all|--repository REPOSITORY]
         ${cmd_option_list}
         """
         import cgi
@@ -1977,6 +1979,9 @@ Please submit there instead, or use --nodevelproject to force direct submission.
         else:
             raise oscerr.WrongArgs('Please specify at least a project.')
 
+        if (not opts.all) and package == None:
+            raise oscerr.WrongOptions('No package name has been provided. Use --all option, if you want to request to delete the entire project.')
+
         if opts.repository:
             repository = opts.repository