diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 67a804b51..e79b16ea0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 * You can check whether Watchman fsmonitor is enabled or installed with the new
   `jj debug watchman status` command.
 
+* A new global flag `--ignore-immutable` lets you rewrite immutable commits.
+
 ### Fixed bugs
 
 * Revsets now support `\`-escapes in string literal.
diff --git a/cli/src/cli_util.rs b/cli/src/cli_util.rs
index 4be76be21..3e615cc1c 100644
--- a/cli/src/cli_util.rs
+++ b/cli/src/cli_util.rs
@@ -1065,6 +1065,17 @@ impl WorkspaceCommandHelper {
         &self,
         commits: impl IntoIterator<Item = &'a CommitId>,
     ) -> Result<(), CommandError> {
+        if self.global_args.ignore_immutable {
+            let root_id = self.repo().store().root_commit_id();
+            return if commits.into_iter().contains(root_id) {
+                Err(user_error(format!(
+                    "The root commit {} is immutable",
+                    short_commit_hash(root_id),
+                )))
+            } else {
+                Ok(())
+            };
+        }
         let to_rewrite_revset =
             RevsetExpression::commits(commits.into_iter().cloned().collect_vec());
         let immutable = revset_util::parse_immutable_expression(&self.revset_parse_context())
@@ -1087,7 +1098,7 @@ impl WorkspaceCommandHelper {
             } else {
                 user_error_with_hint(
                     format!("Commit {} is immutable", short_commit_hash(&commit_id)),
-                    "Configure the set of immutable commits via \
+                    "Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via \
                      `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.",
                 )
             };
@@ -2330,6 +2341,16 @@ pub struct GlobalArgs {
     /// implies `--ignore-working-copy`.
     #[arg(long, global = true)]
     pub ignore_working_copy: bool,
+    /// Don't prevent rewriting immutable commits
+    ///
+    /// By default, Jujutsu prevents rewriting commits in the configured set of
+    /// immutable commits. This option disables that check and lets you rewrite
+    /// any commit but the root commit.
+    ///
+    /// This option only affects the check. It does not affect the
+    /// `immutable_heads()` revset or the `immutable` template keyword.
+    #[arg(long, global = true)]
+    pub ignore_immutable: bool,
     /// Operation to load the repo at
     ///
     /// Operation to load the repo at. By default, Jujutsu loads the repo at the
diff --git a/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap b/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap
index 8c5a2e61e..76bc68816 100644
--- a/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap
+++ b/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap
@@ -153,6 +153,10 @@ To get started, see the tutorial at https://github.com/martinvonz/jj/blob/main/d
 
   Possible values: `true`, `false`
 
+* `--ignore-immutable` — Don't prevent rewriting immutable commits
+
+  Possible values: `true`, `false`
+
 * `--at-operation <AT_OPERATION>` — Operation to load the repo at
 
   Default value: `@`
diff --git a/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs b/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs
index 9b55fd521..0dd196f26 100644
--- a/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs
@@ -592,6 +592,7 @@ fn test_help() {
     Global Options:
       -R, --repository <REPOSITORY>      Path to repository to operate on
           --ignore-working-copy          Don't snapshot the working copy, and don't update it
+          --ignore-immutable             Don't prevent rewriting immutable commits
           --at-operation <AT_OPERATION>  Operation to load the repo at [default: @] [aliases: at-op]
           --debug                        Enable debug logging
           --color <WHEN>                 When to colorize output (always, never, auto)
diff --git a/cli/tests/test_immutable_commits.rs b/cli/tests/test_immutable_commits.rs
index 32d03cd8e..1a5ce85ad 100644
--- a/cli/tests/test_immutable_commits.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/test_immutable_commits.rs
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ fn test_rewrite_immutable_generic() {
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["edit", "main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit c8d4c7ca95d0 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // Cannot rewrite an ancestor of the configured set
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["edit", "main-"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 46a8dc5175be is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // Cannot rewrite the root commit even with an empty set of immutable commits
     test_env.add_config(r#"revset-aliases."immutable_heads()" = "none()""#);
@@ -67,6 +67,22 @@ fn test_rewrite_immutable_generic() {
     For help, see https://github.com/martinvonz/jj/blob/main/docs/config.md.
     "###);
 
+    // Can use --ignore-immutable to override
+    test_env.add_config(r#"revset-aliases."immutable_heads()" = "main""#);
+    let (stdout, stderr) = test_env.jj_cmd_ok(&repo_path, &["--ignore-immutable", "edit", "main"]);
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @r###"
+    "###);
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    Working copy now at: kkmpptxz c8d4c7ca main | b
+    Parent commit      : qpvuntsm 46a8dc51 a
+    Added 0 files, modified 1 files, removed 0 files
+    "###);
+    // ... but not the root commit
+    let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["--ignore-immutable", "edit", "root()"]);
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    Error: The root commit 000000000000 is immutable
+    "###);
+
     // Mutating the repo works if ref is wrapped in present()
     test_env.add_config(
         r#"revset-aliases."immutable_heads()" = "present(branch_that_does_not_exist)""#,
@@ -75,9 +91,8 @@ fn test_rewrite_immutable_generic() {
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @r###"
     "###);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
-    Working copy now at: kpqxywon dbce15b4 (empty) (no description set)
+    Working copy now at: wqnwkozp de8b93b4 (empty) (no description set)
     Parent commit      : kkmpptxz c8d4c7ca main | b
-    Added 0 files, modified 1 files, removed 0 files
     "###);
 
     // Error if we redefine immutable_heads() with an argument
@@ -130,31 +145,31 @@ fn test_rewrite_immutable_commands() {
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["abandon", "main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // chmod
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["chmod", "-r=main", "x", "file"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // describe
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["describe", "main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // diffedit
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["diffedit", "-r=main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // edit
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["edit", "main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // move --from
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["move", "--from=main"]);
@@ -162,7 +177,7 @@ fn test_rewrite_immutable_commands() {
     Warning: `jj move` is deprecated; use `jj squash` instead, which is equivalent
     Warning: `jj move` will be removed in a future version, and this will be a hard error
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // move --to
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["move", "--to=main"]);
@@ -170,78 +185,78 @@ fn test_rewrite_immutable_commands() {
     Warning: `jj move` is deprecated; use `jj squash` instead, which is equivalent
     Warning: `jj move` will be removed in a future version, and this will be a hard error
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // new --insert-before
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["new", "--insert-before", "main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // new --insert-after parent_of_main
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["new", "--insert-after", "description(b)"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // parallelize
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["parallelize", "description(b)", "main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // rebase -s
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["rebase", "-s=main", "-d=@"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // rebase -b
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["rebase", "-b=main", "-d=@"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 6e11f430f297 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // rebase -r
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["rebase", "-r=main", "-d=@"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // resolve
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["resolve", "-r=description(merge)", "file"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // restore -c
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["restore", "-c=main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // restore --to
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["restore", "--to=main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // split
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["split", "-r=main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // squash
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["squash", "-r=description(b)"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit c8d4c7ca95d0 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
     // unsquash
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["unsquash", "-r=main"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Commit 406c181c04d8 is immutable
-    Hint: Configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
+    Hint: Pass `--ignore-immutable` or configure the set of immutable commits via `revset-aliases.immutable_heads()`.
     "###);
 }