diff --git a/libimage/runtime.go b/libimage/runtime.go
index 7d3fbf3f2..502d748d8 100644
--- a/libimage/runtime.go
+++ b/libimage/runtime.go
@@ -541,6 +541,14 @@ type RemoveImagesOptions struct {
 	// using a removed image.  Use RemoveContainerFunc for a custom logic.
 	// If set, all child images will be removed as well.
 	Force bool
+	// If set, do not look for items/instances in the manifest list that
+	// match the current platform but return the manifest list as is.
+	// only check for manifest list, return ErrNotAManifestList if not found.
+	LookupManifest bool
+	// If matching images resolves to a manifest list, return manifest list
+	// instead of resolving to image instance, if manifest list is not found
+	// try resolving image.
+	ManifestList bool
 	// RemoveContainerFunc allows for a custom logic for removing
 	// containers using a specific image.  By default, all containers in
 	// the local containers storage will be removed (if Force is set).
@@ -600,13 +608,26 @@ func (r *Runtime) RemoveImages(ctx context.Context, names []string, options *Rem
 	toDelete := []string{}
 	// Look up images in the local containers storage and fill out
 	// toDelete and the deleteMap.
+
+	// prepare lookupOptions
+	var lookupOptions *LookupImageOptions
+	if options.LookupManifest {
+		// LookupManifest configured as true make sure we only remove manifests and no referenced images.
+		lookupoptions = &lookupimageoptions{lookupmanifest: true}
+	} else if options.ManifestList {
+		// Try finding manifest list if not found fallback to images.
+		lookupoptions = &lookupimageoptions{ManifestList: true}
+	} else {
+		lookupOptions = &LookupImageOptions{returnManifestIfNoInstance: true}
+	}
+
 	switch {
 	case len(names) > 0:
 		// Look up the images one-by-one.  That allows for removing
 		// images that have been looked up successfully while reporting
 		// lookup errors at the end.
 		for _, name := range names {
-			img, resolvedName, err := r.LookupImage(name, &LookupImageOptions{returnManifestIfNoInstance: true})
+			img, resolvedName, err := r.LookupImage(name, lookupOptions)
 			if err != nil {
 				appendError(err)
 				continue