diff --git a/docs/config-format.md b/docs/config-format.md
index 28b12ad..36ea314 100644
--- a/docs/config-format.md
+++ b/docs/config-format.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ Entry    | Description | Default
 `banner` | Display the banner  | true
 `check_version` | Check if a new version of dotdrop is available on github | false
 `chmod_on_import` | Always add a chmod entry on newly imported dotfiles (see `--preserve-mode`) | false
+`clear_workdir` | On `install` clear the `workdir` before installing dotfiles (see `--workdir-clear`) | false
 `cmpignore` | List of patterns to ignore when comparing, applied to all dotfiles (enclose in quotes when using wildcards; see [ignore patterns](config.md#ignore-patterns)) | -
 `create` | Create a directory hierarchy when installing dotfiles if it doesn't exist | true
 `default_actions` | List of action keys to execute for all installed dotfiles (See [actions](config-details.md#actions-entry)) | -
diff --git a/docs/usage.md b/docs/usage.md
index 69bd2dc..298a810 100644
--- a/docs/usage.md
+++ b/docs/usage.md
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ Some available options:
   Note that actions are not executed in this mode.
 * `-a`/`--force-actions`: Force the execution of actions even if the dotfiles are not installed
 * `-f`/`--force`: Do not ask for any confirmation
+* `-W`/`--workdir-clear`: Clear the `workdir` before installing dotfiles (see config entry `clear_workdir`)
 
 To ignore specific patterns during installation, see [the ignore patterns](config.md#ignore-patterns).
 
diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index b66f71c..d41a16a 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -317,6 +317,14 @@ def cmd_install(opts):
 
     installed = []
 
+    # clear the workdir
+    if opts.install_clear_workdir and not opts.dry:
+        LOG.dbg('clearing the workdir under {}'.format(opts.workdir))
+        for root, _, files in os.walk(opts.workdir):
+            for file in files:
+                fpath = os.path.join(root, file)
+                removepath(fpath, logger=LOG)
+
     # execute profile pre-action
     LOG.dbg('run {} profile pre actions'.format(len(pro_pre_actions)))
     templ = _get_templater(opts)
diff --git a/dotdrop/options.py b/dotdrop/options.py
index f1ea7f8..96fd893 100644
--- a/dotdrop/options.py
+++ b/dotdrop/options.py
@@ -56,18 +56,18 @@ USAGE = """
 {}
 
 Usage:
-  dotdrop install   [-VbtfndDa] [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
-                                [-w <nb>] [<key>...]
-  dotdrop import    [-Vbdfm]    [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [-s <path>]
-                                [-l <link>] [-i <pattern>...] <path>...
-  dotdrop compare   [-LVbz]     [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
-                                [-w <nb>] [-C <file>...] [-i <pattern>...]
-  dotdrop update    [-VbfdkPz]  [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
-                                [-w <nb>] [-i <pattern>...] [<path>...]
-  dotdrop remove    [-Vbfdk]    [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<path>...]
-  dotdrop files     [-VbTG]     [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
-  dotdrop detail    [-Vb]       [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<key>...]
-  dotdrop profiles  [-VbG]      [-c <path>]
+  dotdrop install   [-VbtfndDaW] [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
+                                 [-w <nb>] [<key>...]
+  dotdrop import    [-Vbdfm]     [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [-s <path>]
+                                 [-l <link>] [-i <pattern>...] <path>...
+  dotdrop compare   [-LVbz]      [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
+                                 [-w <nb>] [-C <file>...] [-i <pattern>...]
+  dotdrop update    [-VbfdkPz]   [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
+                                 [-w <nb>] [-i <pattern>...] [<path>...]
+  dotdrop remove    [-Vbfdk]     [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<path>...]
+  dotdrop files     [-VbTG]      [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
+  dotdrop detail    [-Vb]        [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<key>...]
+  dotdrop profiles  [-VbG]       [-c <path>]
   dotdrop --help
   dotdrop --version
 
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ Options:
   -T --template           Only template dotfiles.
   -V --verbose            Be verbose.
   -w --workers=<nb>       Number of concurrent workers [default: 1].
+  -W --workdir-clear      Clear the workdir.
   -z --ignore-missing     Ignore files in installed folders that are missing.
   -v --version            Show version.
   -h --help               Show this screen.
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ class Options(AttrMonitor):
         self.link_on_import = None
         self.chmod_on_import = None
         self.check_version = None
+        self.clear_workdir = None
 
         # args parsing
         self.args = {}
@@ -244,6 +246,8 @@ class Options(AttrMonitor):
                                              if a.kind == Action.post]
         self.install_ignore = self.instignore
         self.install_force_chmod = self.force_chmod
+        self.install_clear_workdir = self.args['--workdir-clear'] or \
+            self.clear_workdir
 
     def _apply_args_compare(self):
         """compare specifics"""
diff --git a/dotdrop/settings.py b/dotdrop/settings.py
index 3b4675a..54554d2 100644
--- a/dotdrop/settings.py
+++ b/dotdrop/settings.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class Settings(DictParser):
     key_ignore_missing_in_dotdrop = 'ignore_missing_in_dotdrop'
     key_chmod_on_import = 'chmod_on_import'
     key_check_version = 'check_version'
+    key_clear_workdir = 'clear_workdir'
 
     # import keys
     key_import_actions = 'import_actions'
@@ -65,9 +66,8 @@ class Settings(DictParser):
                  diff_command='diff -r -u {0} {1}',
                  template_dotfile_default=True,
                  ignore_missing_in_dotdrop=False,
-                 force_chmod=False,
-                 chmod_on_import=False,
-                 check_version=False):
+                 force_chmod=False, chmod_on_import=False,
+                 check_version=False, clear_workdir=False):
         self.backup = backup
         self.banner = banner
         self.create = create
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ class Settings(DictParser):
         self.force_chmod = force_chmod
         self.chmod_on_import = chmod_on_import
         self.check_version = check_version
+        self.clear_workdir = clear_workdir
 
     def _serialize_seq(self, name, dic):
         """serialize attribute 'name' into 'dic'"""
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ class Settings(DictParser):
             self.key_force_chmod: self.force_chmod,
             self.key_chmod_on_import: self.chmod_on_import,
             self.key_check_version: self.check_version,
+            self.key_clear_workdir: self.clear_workdir,
         }
         self._serialize_seq(self.key_default_actions, dic)
         self._serialize_seq(self.key_import_actions, dic)
diff --git a/tests-ng/clear-workdir.sh b/tests-ng/clear-workdir.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..89a4f30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests-ng/clear-workdir.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+# Copyright (c) 2021, deadc0de6
+#
+# test clear_workdir
+# returns 1 in case of error
+#
+
+# exit on first error
+set -e
+
+# all this crap to get current path
+rl="readlink -f"
+if ! ${rl} "${0}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  rl="realpath"
+
+  if ! hash ${rl}; then
+    echo "\"${rl}\" not found !" && exit 1
+  fi
+fi
+cur=$(dirname "$(${rl} "${0}")")
+
+#hash dotdrop >/dev/null 2>&1
+#[ "$?" != "0" ] && echo "install dotdrop to run tests" && exit 1
+
+#echo "called with ${1}"
+
+# dotdrop path can be pass as argument
+ddpath="${cur}/../"
+[ "${1}" != "" ] && ddpath="${1}"
+[ ! -d ${ddpath} ] && echo "ddpath \"${ddpath}\" is not a directory" && exit 1
+
+export PYTHONPATH="${ddpath}:${PYTHONPATH}"
+bin="python3 -m dotdrop.dotdrop"
+hash coverage 2>/dev/null && bin="coverage run -a --source=dotdrop -m dotdrop.dotdrop" || true
+
+echo "dotdrop path: ${ddpath}"
+echo "pythonpath: ${PYTHONPATH}"
+
+# get the helpers
+source ${cur}/helpers
+
+echo -e "$(tput setaf 6)==> RUNNING $(basename $BASH_SOURCE) <==$(tput sgr0)"
+
+################################################################
+# this is the test
+################################################################
+
+# dotdrop directory
+basedir=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests' || mktemp -d`
+mkdir -p ${basedir}/dotfiles
+echo "[+] dotdrop dir: ${basedir}"
+echo "[+] dotpath dir: ${basedir}/dotfiles"
+tmpd=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests' || mktemp -d`
+if [ -z "${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}" ]; then
+  tmpw=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests' || mktemp -d`
+  export DOTDROP_WORKDIR="${tmpw}"
+  clear_on_exit "${tmpw}"
+fi
+
+clear_on_exit "${basedir}"
+clear_on_exit "${tmpd}"
+
+echo "{{@@ profile @@}}" > ${basedir}/dotfiles/x
+
+# create the config file
+cfg="${basedir}/config.yaml"
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+dotfiles:
+  f_x:
+    src: x
+    dst: ${tmpd}/x
+    link: link
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_x
+_EOF
+
+echo "[+] install (1)"
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -c ${cfg} -f -p p1 --verbose | grep '^1 dotfile(s) installed.$'
+[ "$?" != "0" ] && exit 1
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpd}/x ] && echo "f_x not installed" && exit 1
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/x ] && echo "f_x not symlink" && exit 1
+[ ! -e ${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/${tmpd}/x ] && echo "f_x not in workdir (${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/${tmpd})" && exit 1
+
+# add file
+touch ${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/new
+
+echo "[+] re-install with clear-workdir in cli"
+cd ${ddpath} | printf "y\n" | ${bin} install -W -c ${cfg} -p p1 --verbose
+[ "$?" != "0" ] && exit 1
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpd}/x ] && echo "f_x not installed" && exit 1
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/x ] && echo "f_x not symlink" && exit 1
+[ ! -e ${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/${tmpd}/x ] && echo "f_x not in workdir (${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/${tmpd})" && exit 1
+[ -e ${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/new ] && echo "workdir not cleared (1)" && exit 1
+
+# add file
+touch ${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/new
+
+echo "[+] re-install with config clear-workdir in config"
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+  clear_workdir: true
+dotfiles:
+  f_x:
+    src: x
+    dst: ${tmpd}/x
+    link: link
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_x
+_EOF
+cd ${ddpath} | printf "y\n" | ${bin} install -W -c ${cfg} -p p1 --verbose
+[ "$?" != "0" ] && exit 1
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpd}/x ] && echo "f_x not installed" && exit 1
+[ ! -h ${tmpd}/x ] && echo "f_x not symlink" && exit 1
+[ ! -e ${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/${tmpd}/x ] && echo "f_x not in workdir (${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/${tmpd})" && exit 1
+[ -e ${DOTDROP_WORKDIR}/new ] && echo "workdir not cleared (2)" && exit 1
+
+echo "OK"
+exit 0
diff --git a/tests.sh b/tests.sh
index 0ab00a9..adfee97 100755
--- a/tests.sh
+++ b/tests.sh
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ fi
 unset DOTDROP_DEBUG=
 export DOTDROP_FORCE_NODEBUG=yes
 
-export DOTDROP_WORKDIR=/tmp/dotdrop-tests-workdir
+tmpworkdir="/tmp/dotdrop-tests-workdir"
+export DOTDROP_WORKDIR="${tmpworkdir}"
 
 if [ ! -z ${workers} ]; then
   DOTDROP_WORKERS=${workers}
@@ -90,8 +91,8 @@ if [ ! -z ${workers} ]; then
 fi
 
 # run bash tests
-workdir_tmp="no"
-[ -d "~/.config/dotdrop/tmp" ] && workdir_tmp="yes"
+workdir_tmp_exists="no"
+[ -d "~/.config/dotdrop/tmp" ] && workdir_tmp_exists="yes"
 if [ -z ${GITHUB_WORKFLOW} ]; then
   ## local
   export COVERAGE_FILE=
@@ -101,7 +102,11 @@ else
   export COVERAGE_FILE="${cur}/.coverage"
   tests-ng/tests-launcher.py 1
 fi
-[ "${workdir_tmp}" = "no" ] && rm -rf ~/.config/dotdrop/tmp
+
+# clear workdir
+[ "${workdir_tmp_exists}" = "no" ] && rm -rf ~/.config/dotdrop/tmp
+# clear temp workdir
+rm -rf "${tmpworkdir}"
 
 ## test the doc with remark
 ## https://github.com/remarkjs/remark-validate-links
diff --git a/tests/helpers.py b/tests/helpers.py
index c29fe62..458514f 100644
--- a/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/tests/helpers.py
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ def _fake_args():
     args['--workers'] = 1
     args['--preserve-mode'] = False
     args['--ignore-missing'] = False
+    args['--workdir-clear'] = False
     # cmds
     args['profiles'] = False
     args['files'] = False