diff --git a/site-modules/core/files/bin/git-merge-patch b/site-modules/core/files/bin/git-merge-patch
index d915853..4120235 100755
--- a/site-modules/core/files/bin/git-merge-patch
+++ b/site-modules/core/files/bin/git-merge-patch
@@ -62,6 +62,20 @@ if [[ "$MERGE_BRANCH" != "--continue" ]]; then
 	#
 	git fetch
 
+	#
+	# Ask the user if they would like to remove the local branch if it exists locally
+	#
+	if [[ ! -z "$(git branch --list $MERGE_BRANCH)" ]]; then
+		while true; do
+			read -p "Branch '$MERGE_BRANCH' exists locally would you like to remove it? " yn
+			case $yn in
+				[Yy]* ) git branch -D "$MERGE_BRANCH"; break;;
+				[Nn]* ) echo "Exiting you need to remove branch '$MERGE_BRANCH' manually before merge-patching"; exit;;
+				* ) echo "Please answer yes or no.";;
+			esac
+		done
+	fi
+
 	#
 	# Check out the merge branch from the origin
 	#