diff --git a/docs/deployment/methods/git.md b/docs/deployment/methods/git.md
index fdcfecb970c..b34897d590f 100644
--- a/docs/deployment/methods/git.md
+++ b/docs/deployment/methods/git.md
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ git:initialize <app>                              # Initialize a git repository
 git:public-key                                    # Outputs the dokku public deploy key
 git:report [<app>] [<flag>]                       # Displays a git report for one or more apps
 git:set <app> <key> (<value>)                     # Set or clear a git property for an app
+git:unlock <app> [--force]                        # Removes previous git clone folder for new deployment
 ```
 
 Git-based deployment has been the traditional method of deploying applications in Dokku. As of v0.12.0, Dokku introduces a few ways to customize the experience of deploying via `git push`. A Git-based deployment currently supports building applications via:
diff --git a/plugins/git/help-functions b/plugins/git/help-functions
index 42f64c2555b..5772397930f 100755
--- a/plugins/git/help-functions
+++ b/plugins/git/help-functions
@@ -36,5 +36,6 @@ fn-help-content() {
     git:public-key, Outputs the dokku public deploy key
     git:report [<app>] [<flag>], Displays a git report for one or more apps
     git:set <app> <property> (<value>), Set or clear a git property for an app
+    git:unlock <app> [--force], Removes previous git clone folder for new deployment 
 help_content
 }
diff --git a/plugins/git/internal-functions b/plugins/git/internal-functions
index c3b05c7ae0b..a803d7f5ed9 100755
--- a/plugins/git/internal-functions
+++ b/plugins/git/internal-functions
@@ -193,6 +193,18 @@ cmd-git-sync() {
 
   verify_app_name "$APP"
 
+  if [[ -d "$DOKKU_LIB_ROOT/data/git/$APP" ]]; then
+    if has_tty eq 0; then
+      cmd-git-unlock "$APP"
+      if [[ -d "$DOKKU_LIB_ROOT/data/git/$APP" ]]; then
+        dokku_log_fail "Failed to delete existing clone folder"
+        exit 15
+      fi
+    else
+      dokku_log_fail "Run 'git:unlock' to remove the existing temporary clone"
+    fi
+  fi
+
   if [[ -z "$GIT_REMOTE" ]]; then
     dokku_log_fail "Missing GIT_REMOTE parameter"
     return
@@ -215,6 +227,40 @@ cmd-git-sync() {
   fi
 }
 
+cmd-git-unlock() {
+  declare desc="removes the clone folder for an app"
+  local cmd="git:unlock"
+  [[ "$1" == "$cmd" ]] && shift 1
+  declare APP="$1" FLAG
+
+  for arg in "$@"; do
+    if [[ "$arg" == "--force" ]]; then
+      FLAG="--force"
+      continue
+    fi
+
+    ARGS+=("$arg")
+  done
+
+  local APP_CLONE_ROOT="$DOKKU_LIB_ROOT/data/git/$APP"
+
+  if [[ -d "$APP_CLONE_ROOT" ]]; then
+    if [[ "$FLAG" == "--force" ]]; then
+      fn-git-remove-clone-folder "$APP_CLONE_ROOT"
+    else
+      read -rp "Are you sure that want to delete clone folder (y/n)?" choice
+      case "$choice" in
+        y | Y)
+          fn-git-remove-clone-folder "$APP_CLONE_ROOT"
+          ;;
+        n | N) echo "no" ;;
+        *) echo "please answer with yes or no" ;;
+      esac
+    fi
+  else
+    dokku_log_info1 "No clone folder exists app already unlocked"
+  fi
+}
 cmd-git-public-key() {
   declare desc="outputs the dokku public deploy key"
   local cmd="git:public-key"
@@ -301,6 +347,13 @@ fn-git-auth-error() {
   dokku_log_fail "As an alternative, configure the netrc authentication via the git:auth command"
 }
 
+fn-git-remove-clone-folder() {
+  declare APP_CLONE_ROOT="$1"
+  dokku_log_info1 "About to delete $APP_CLONE_ROOT"
+  rm -rf "$APP_CLONE_ROOT"
+  dokku_log_info1 "Successfully deleted $APP_CLONE_ROOT"
+}
+
 fn-git-create-hook() {
   declare APP="$1"
   local APP_PATH="$DOKKU_ROOT/$APP"
@@ -331,10 +384,6 @@ fn-git-clone() {
     dokku_log_fail "The clone subcommand can only be executed for new applications"
   fi
 
-  if [[ -d "$APP_CLONE_ROOT" ]]; then
-    dokku_log_fail "Clone in progress"
-  fi
-
   if [[ -z "$GIT_REF" ]]; then
     GIT_REF="$(fn-git-deploy-branch "$APP")"
   fi
diff --git a/plugins/git/subcommands/unlock b/plugins/git/subcommands/unlock
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..ca256e1cce2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/git/subcommands/unlock
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+source "$PLUGIN_AVAILABLE_PATH/git/internal-functions"
+set -eo pipefail
+[[ $DOKKU_TRACE ]] && set -x
+
+cmd-git-unlock "$@"
diff --git a/tests/unit/git_6.bats b/tests/unit/git_6.bats
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ab706a5753d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/git_6.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+load test_helper
+
+setup() {
+  global_setup
+  touch /home/dokku/.ssh/known_hosts
+  chown dokku:dokku /home/dokku/.ssh/known_hosts
+  mkdir -p "$DOKKU_LIB_ROOT/data/git/$TEST_APP"
+  chown dokku:dokku "$DOKKU_LIB_ROOT/data/git/$TEST_APP"
+}
+
+teardown() {
+  rm -f /home/dokku/.ssh/id_rsa.pub || true
+  global_teardown
+}
+
+@test "(git) git:unlock [success]" {
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:unlock $TEST_APP --force"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_success
+}
+
+@test "(git) git:unlock [missing arg]" {
+  run /bin/bash -c "dokku git:unlock"
+  echo "output: $output"
+  echo "status: $status"
+  assert_failure
+}