diff --git a/combo/apps/search/management/commands/update_index.py b/combo/apps/search/management/commands/update_index.py
index 81b290ac..85d3197f 100644
--- a/combo/apps/search/management/commands/update_index.py
+++ b/combo/apps/search/management/commands/update_index.py
@@ -35,12 +35,15 @@ class Command(UpdateIndexCommand):
             # do not index site if there's no matching search cell
             return
         if not options.get('skip_external_links_collection', False):
-            self.collect_external_links()
+            self.collect_external_links(options)
         return super(Command, self).handle(**options)
 
-    def collect_external_links(self):
+    def collect_external_links(self, options):
         start_time = now()
 
+        if options.get('remove'):
+            ExternalLinkSearchItem.objects.all().delete()
+
         # assemble external links data
         links = {}
         for page in Page.objects.all():