diff --git a/api/api_full.go b/api/api_full.go
index 7cc88fa80..9a8643146 100644
--- a/api/api_full.go
+++ b/api/api_full.go
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ type FullNode interface {
 	MpoolSub(context.Context) (<-chan MpoolUpdate, error)
 
 	// MpoolClear clears all pending messages from the mpool
-	MpoolClear(context.Context) error
+	MpoolClear(context.Context, bool) error
 
 	// MpoolGetConfig returns (a copy of) the current mpool config
 	MpoolGetConfig(context.Context) (*types.MpoolConfig, error)
diff --git a/api/apistruct/struct.go b/api/apistruct/struct.go
index 219aea495..05f22139a 100644
--- a/api/apistruct/struct.go
+++ b/api/apistruct/struct.go
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ type FullNodeStruct struct {
 		MpoolSelect func(context.Context, types.TipSetKey, float64) ([]*types.SignedMessage, error) `perm:"read"`
 
 		MpoolPending func(context.Context, types.TipSetKey) ([]*types.SignedMessage, error) `perm:"read"`
-		MpoolClear   func(context.Context) error                                            `perm:"write"`
+		MpoolClear   func(context.Context, bool) error                                      `perm:"write"`
 
 		MpoolPush        func(context.Context, *types.SignedMessage) (cid.Cid, error)                              `perm:"write"`
 		MpoolPushMessage func(context.Context, *types.Message, *api.MessageSendSpec) (*types.SignedMessage, error) `perm:"sign"`
@@ -496,8 +496,8 @@ func (c *FullNodeStruct) MpoolPending(ctx context.Context, tsk types.TipSetKey)
 	return c.Internal.MpoolPending(ctx, tsk)
 }
 
-func (c *FullNodeStruct) MpoolClear(ctx context.Context) error {
-	return c.Internal.MpoolClear(ctx)
+func (c *FullNodeStruct) MpoolClear(ctx context.Context, localonly bool) error {
+	return c.Internal.MpoolClear(ctx, localonly)
 }
 
 func (c *FullNodeStruct) MpoolPush(ctx context.Context, smsg *types.SignedMessage) (cid.Cid, error) {
diff --git a/chain/messagepool/messagepool.go b/chain/messagepool/messagepool.go
index 817641ebe..684aa80aa 100644
--- a/chain/messagepool/messagepool.go
+++ b/chain/messagepool/messagepool.go
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ func (mp *MessagePool) loadLocal() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (mp *MessagePool) Clear() {
+func (mp *MessagePool) Clear(localonly bool) {
 	mp.lk.Lock()
 	defer mp.lk.Unlock()
 
@@ -991,9 +991,14 @@ func (mp *MessagePool) Clear() {
 				log.Warnf("error deleting local message: %s", err)
 			}
 		}
+
+		delete(mp.pending, a)
 	}
 
 	// clear the maps
-	mp.pending = make(map[address.Address]*msgSet)
 	mp.republished = nil
+	if !localonly {
+		mp.pending = make(map[address.Address]*msgSet)
+	}
+
 }
diff --git a/cli/mpool.go b/cli/mpool.go
index 3ec77a647..e6f0bacc7 100644
--- a/cli/mpool.go
+++ b/cli/mpool.go
@@ -87,6 +87,12 @@ var mpoolPending = &cli.Command{
 var mpoolClear = &cli.Command{
 	Name:  "clear",
 	Usage: "Clear all pending messages from the mpool (USE WITH CARE)",
+	Flags: []cli.Flag{
+		&cli.BoolFlag{
+			Name:  "local",
+			Usage: "clear local messages only",
+		},
+	},
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -94,9 +100,10 @@ var mpoolClear = &cli.Command{
 		}
 		defer closer()
 
-		ctx := ReqContext(cctx)
+		local := cctx.Bool("local")
 
-		return api.MpoolClear(ctx)
+		ctx := ReqContext(cctx)
+		return api.MpoolClear(ctx, local)
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/documentation/en/mpool.md b/documentation/en/mpool.md
index ebca03fcb..d26120d8e 100644
--- a/documentation/en/mpool.md
+++ b/documentation/en/mpool.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ The full node API defines the following methods for interacting with the mpool:
     MpoolSub(context.Context) (<-chan MpoolUpdate, error)
     MpoolGetConfig(context.Context) (*types.MpoolConfig, error)
     MpoolSetConfig(context.Context, *types.MpoolConfig) error
-    MpoolClear(context.Context) error
+    MpoolClear(context.Context, localonly bool) error
 ```
 
 ### MpoolPending
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ Sets the mpool configuration to (a copy of) the supplied configuration object.
 
 ### MpoolClear
 
-Unconditionally clears all pending messages from the mpool.
+Clears pending messages from the mpool; if `localonly` is `true` then only local messages are cleared.
+
 This should be used with extreme care and only in the case of errors during head changes that
 would leave the mpool in an inconsistent state.
 
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ lotus mpool stat [--local]
 lotus mpool replace [--gas-feecap <feecap>] [--gas-premium <premium>] [--gas-limit <limit>] [from] [nonce]
 lotus mpool find [--from <address>] [--to <address>] [--method <int>]
 lotus mpool config [<configuration>]
-lotus mpool clear
+lotus mpool clear [--local]
 ```
 
 ### lotus mpool pending
@@ -107,7 +108,9 @@ Searches for messages in the mpool.
 Gets or sets the current mpool configuration.
 
 ### lotus mpool clear
-Unconditionally clears all pending messages from the mpool.
+Unconditionally clears pending messages from the mpool.
+If the `--local` flag is passed, then only local messages are cleared; otherwise all messages
+are cleared.
 
 *Warning*: this command should only be used in the case of head change errors leaving the mpool in an
 inconsistent state.
diff --git a/node/impl/full/mpool.go b/node/impl/full/mpool.go
index bb4ce2b62..388eaa9d0 100644
--- a/node/impl/full/mpool.go
+++ b/node/impl/full/mpool.go
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ func (a *MpoolAPI) MpoolPending(ctx context.Context, tsk types.TipSetKey) ([]*ty
 	}
 }
 
-func (a *MpoolAPI) MpoolClear(ctx context.Context) error {
-	a.Mpool.Clear()
+func (a *MpoolAPI) MpoolClear(ctx context.Context, localonly bool) error {
+	a.Mpool.Clear(localonly)
 	return nil
 }