diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 942057a..62093ca 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ The following messages are handled:
 
 - `rename CURRENT_NAME NEW_NAME` — Rename the desktop named `CURRENT_NAME` to `NEW_NAME`.
 
+- `remove_desktop DESKTOP_NAME ...` — Remove the given desktops.
+
 - `cycle_monitor next|prev` — Select the next or previous monitor.
 
 - `cycle_desktop next|prev [--skip-free|--skip-occupied]` — Select the next or previous desktop.
diff --git a/bash_completion b/bash_completion
index 5933244..c728a3d 100644
--- a/bash_completion
+++ b/bash_completion
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 _bspc()
 {
-    local messages='get set list list_desktops list_monitors list_windows list_rules list_history presel cancel ratio pad focus shift swap push pull cycle nearest biggest circulate grab_pointer track_pointer ungrab_pointer toggle_fullscreen toggle_floating toggle_locked toggle_visibility close kill send_to drop_to send_to_monitor drop_to_monitor use use_monitor alternate alternate_desktop alternate_monitor add add_in rename_monitor rename cycle_monitor cycle_desktop layout cycle_layout rotate flip balance rule remove_rule put_status adopt_orphans restore_layout restore_history quit'
+    local messages='get set list list_desktops list_monitors list_windows list_rules list_history presel cancel ratio pad focus shift swap push pull cycle nearest biggest circulate grab_pointer track_pointer ungrab_pointer toggle_fullscreen toggle_floating toggle_locked toggle_visibility close kill send_to drop_to send_to_monitor drop_to_monitor use use_monitor alternate alternate_desktop alternate_monitor add add_in rename_monitor rename remove_desktop cycle_monitor cycle_desktop layout cycle_layout rotate flip balance rule remove_rule put_status adopt_orphans restore_layout restore_history quit'
 
     local settings='focused_border_color active_border_color normal_border_color presel_border_color focused_locked_border_color active_locked_border_color normal_locked_border_color urgent_border_color border_width window_gap split_ratio top_padding right_padding bottom_padding left_padding wm_name borderless_monocle gapless_monocle focus_follows_pointer adaptative_raise apply_shadow_property auto_alternate focus_by_distance'
 
diff --git a/bspwm.1 b/bspwm.1
index b0d9c28..4b59c5a 100644
--- a/bspwm.1
+++ b/bspwm.1
@@ -222,6 +222,9 @@ Rename the monitor named CURRENT_NAME to NEW_NAME.
 .BI rename " CURRENT_NAME NEW_NAME"
 Rename the desktop named CURRENT_NAME to NEW_NAME.
 .TP
+.BI remove_desktop " DESKTOP_NAME ..."
+Remove the given desktops.
+.TP
 .BI cycle_monitor " next|prev"
 Select the next or previous monitor.
 .TP
diff --git a/messages.c b/messages.c
index 03838a2..7f055d9 100644
--- a/messages.c
+++ b/messages.c
@@ -424,6 +424,17 @@ void process_message(char *msg, char *rsp)
         for (char *name = strtok(NULL, TOK_SEP); name != NULL; name = strtok(NULL, TOK_SEP))
             add_desktop(mon, make_desktop(name));
         return;
+    } else if (strcmp(cmd, "remove_desktop") == 0) {
+        for (char *name = strtok(NULL, TOK_SEP); name != NULL; name = strtok(NULL, TOK_SEP)) {
+            desktop_location_t loc;
+            if (locate_desktop(name, &loc)) {
+                if (loc.desktop->root == NULL && loc.monitor->desk_head != loc.monitor->desk_tail)
+                    remove_desktop(loc.monitor, loc.desktop);
+            }
+        }
+        desktop_show(mon->desk);
+        update_current();
+        return;
     } else if (strcmp(cmd, "focus") == 0) {
         if (mon->desk->focus == NULL || mon->desk->focus->client->fullscreen)
             return;
diff --git a/rules.c b/rules.c
index 5f9f81d..9845bac 100644
--- a/rules.c
+++ b/rules.c
@@ -40,6 +40,17 @@ void remove_rule_by_uid(unsigned int uid)
     remove_rule(find_rule(uid));
 }
 
+void prune_rules(desktop_t *d)
+{
+    rule_t *r = rule_head;
+    while (r != NULL) {
+        rule_t *next = r->next;
+        if (r->effect.desktop == d)
+            remove_rule(r);
+        r = next;
+    }
+}
+
 rule_t *find_rule(unsigned int uid)
 {
     for (rule_t *r = rule_head; r != NULL; r = r->next)
diff --git a/rules.h b/rules.h
index a003ecd..f057d4f 100644
--- a/rules.h
+++ b/rules.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 void add_rule(rule_t *);
 void remove_rule(rule_t *);
 void remove_rule_by_uid(unsigned int);
+void prune_rules(desktop_t *);
 rule_t *find_rule(unsigned int);
 bool is_match(rule_t *, xcb_window_t);
 void handle_rules(xcb_window_t, monitor_t **, desktop_t **, bool *, bool *, bool *, bool *, bool *, bool *);
diff --git a/tree.c b/tree.c
index 036537a..8fb6ec5 100644
--- a/tree.c
+++ b/tree.c
@@ -779,11 +779,8 @@ void select_desktop(monitor_t *m, desktop_t *d)
     PRINTF("select desktop %s\n", d->name);
 
     if (visible) {
-        for (node_t *n = first_extrema(d->root); n != NULL; n = next_leaf(n, d->root))
-            window_show(n->client->window);
-
-        for (node_t *n = first_extrema(mon->desk->root); n != NULL; n = next_leaf(n, mon->desk->root))
-            window_hide(n->client->window);
+        desktop_show(d);
+        desktop_hide(mon->desk);
     }
 
     mon->last_desk = mon->desk;
diff --git a/types.c b/types.c
index 0d7ebb7..f1569ff 100644
--- a/types.c
+++ b/types.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <xcb/xcb_event.h>
 #include "bspwm.h"
 #include "window.h"
+#include "rules.h"
 #include "ewmh.h"
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "types.h"
@@ -173,13 +174,13 @@ void unlink_desktop(monitor_t *m, desktop_t *d)
         m->last_desk = NULL;
     if (m->desk == d)
         m->desk = (m->last_desk == NULL ? m->desk_head : m->last_desk);
-    d->next = d->prev = NULL;
 }
 
 void remove_desktop(monitor_t *m, desktop_t *d)
 {
     PRINTF("remove desktop %s\n", d->name);
 
+    prune_rules(d);
     unlink_desktop(m, d);
     empty_desktop(d);
     free(d);
diff --git a/window.c b/window.c
index 7d22a08..63dabbd 100644
--- a/window.c
+++ b/window.c
@@ -557,6 +557,18 @@ void toggle_visibility(void)
         update_current();
 }
 
+void desktop_show(desktop_t *d)
+{
+    for (node_t *n = first_extrema(d->root); n != NULL; n = next_leaf(n, d->root))
+        window_show(n->client->window);
+}
+
+void desktop_hide(desktop_t *d)
+{
+    for (node_t *n = first_extrema(d->root); n != NULL; n = next_leaf(n, d->root))
+        window_hide(n->client->window);
+}
+
 void enable_motion_recorder(void)
 {
     window_raise(motion_recorder);
diff --git a/window.h b/window.h
index fc47250..4a5bd1d 100644
--- a/window.h
+++ b/window.h
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ void window_set_visibility(xcb_window_t, bool);
 void window_hide(xcb_window_t);
 void window_show(xcb_window_t);
 void toggle_visibility(void);
+void desktop_show(desktop_t *);
+void desktop_hide(desktop_t *);
 void enable_motion_recorder(void);
 void disable_motion_recorder(void);
 void clear_input_focus(void);