diff --git a/cmd/ctr/delete.go b/cmd/ctr/delete.go
index 7acdc40e5..1dbf2a202 100644
--- a/cmd/ctr/delete.go
+++ b/cmd/ctr/delete.go
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ var deleteCommand = cli.Command{
 	Name:      "delete",
 	Usage:     "delete an existing container",
 	ArgsUsage: "CONTAINER",
+	Flags: []cli.Flag{
+		cli.BoolFlag{
+			Name:  "keep-snapshot",
+			Usage: "do not clean up snapshot with container",
+		},
+	},
 	Action: func(context *cli.Context) error {
 		ctx, cancel := appContext(context)
 		defer cancel()
@@ -18,13 +24,17 @@ var deleteCommand = cli.Command{
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		deleteOpts := []containerd.DeleteOpts{}
+		if !context.Bool("keep-snapshot") {
+			deleteOpts = append(deleteOpts, containerd.WithRootFSDeletion)
+		}
 		container, err := client.LoadContainer(ctx, context.Args().First())
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		task, err := container.Task(ctx, nil)
 		if err != nil {
-			return container.Delete(ctx)
+			return container.Delete(ctx, deleteOpts...)
 		}
 		status, err := task.Status(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -34,7 +44,7 @@ var deleteCommand = cli.Command{
 			if _, err := task.Delete(ctx); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			return container.Delete(ctx)
+			return container.Delete(ctx, deleteOpts...)
 		}
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot delete a container with an existing task")
 	},