diff --git a/daemon/call.c b/daemon/call.c
index f5a4afa88..060f6a52d 100644
--- a/daemon/call.c
+++ b/daemon/call.c
@@ -3637,7 +3637,7 @@ static void __call_cleanup(struct call *c) {
 		obj_put(sfd);
 	}
 
-	recording_finish(c);
+	recording_finish(c, false);
 }
 
 /* called lock-free, but must hold a reference to the call */
diff --git a/daemon/call_interfaces.c b/daemon/call_interfaces.c
index aa02b4a76..991f3ce65 100644
--- a/daemon/call_interfaces.c
+++ b/daemon/call_interfaces.c
@@ -1031,6 +1031,9 @@ static void call_ng_flags_flags(struct sdp_ng_flags *out, str *s, void *dummy) {
 		case CSH_LOOKUP("record-call"):
 			out->record_call = 1;
 			break;
+		case CSH_LOOKUP("discard-recording"):
+			out->discard_recording = 1;
+			break;
 		case CSH_LOOKUP("inactive"):
 			out->inactive = 1;
 			break;
@@ -2119,6 +2122,7 @@ const char *call_delete_ng(bencode_item_t *input, bencode_item_t *output) {
 	str fromtag, totag, viabranch, callid;
 	bencode_item_t *flags, *it;
 	bool fatal = false;
+	bool discard = false;
 	int delete_delay;
 
 	if (!bencode_dictionary_get_str(input, "call-id", &callid))
@@ -2132,6 +2136,8 @@ const char *call_delete_ng(bencode_item_t *input, bencode_item_t *output) {
 		for (it = flags->child; it; it = it->sibling) {
 			if (!bencode_strcmp(it, "fatal"))
 				fatal = true;
+			else if (!bencode_strcmp(it, "discard-recording"))
+				discard = true;
 		}
 	}
 	delete_delay = bencode_dictionary_get_int_str(input, "delete-delay", -1);
@@ -2146,13 +2152,23 @@ const char *call_delete_ng(bencode_item_t *input, bencode_item_t *output) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (call_delete_branch_by_id(&callid, &viabranch, &fromtag, &totag, output, delete_delay)) {
-		if (fatal)
-			return "Call-ID not found or tags didn't match";
-		bencode_dictionary_add_string(output, "warning", "Call-ID not found or tags didn't match");
-	}
+	struct call *c = call_get(&callid);
+	if (!c)
+		goto err;
+
+	if (discard)
+		recording_discard(c);
+
+	if (call_delete_branch(c, &viabranch, &fromtag, &totag, output, delete_delay))
+		goto err;
 
 	return NULL;
+
+err:
+	if (fatal)
+		return "Call-ID not found or tags didn't match";
+	bencode_dictionary_add_string(output, "warning", "Call-ID not found or tags didn't match");
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 static void ng_stats(bencode_item_t *d, const struct stream_stats *s, struct stream_stats *totals) {
@@ -2593,6 +2609,10 @@ static void stop_recording_fn(bencode_item_t *input, struct call *call) {
 				pause_recording_fn(input, call);
 				return;
 			}
+			if (bencode_strcmp(child, "discard-recording") == 0) {
+				recording_discard(call);
+				return;
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/daemon/recording.c b/daemon/recording.c
index 6c385934b..253655a80 100644
--- a/daemon/recording.c
+++ b/daemon/recording.c
@@ -46,14 +46,14 @@ static void init_all(struct call *call);
 static void sdp_after_all(struct recording *recording, GString *str, struct call_monologue *ml,
 		enum call_opmode opmode);
 static void dump_packet_all(struct media_packet *mp, const str *s);
-static void finish_all(struct call *call);
+static void finish_all(struct call *call, bool discard);
 
 // pcap methods
 static int rec_pcap_create_spool_dir(const char *dirpath);
 static void rec_pcap_init(struct call *);
 static void sdp_after_pcap(struct recording *, GString *str, struct call_monologue *, enum call_opmode opmode);
 static void dump_packet_pcap(struct media_packet *mp, const str *s);
-static void finish_pcap(struct call *);
+static void finish_pcap(struct call *, bool discard);
 static void response_pcap(struct recording *, bencode_item_t *);
 
 // proc methods
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ static void sdp_before_proc(struct recording *, const str *, struct call_monolog
 static void sdp_after_proc(struct recording *, GString *str, struct call_monologue *, enum call_opmode opmode);
 static void meta_chunk_proc(struct recording *, const char *, const str *);
 static void update_flags_proc(struct call *call, bool streams);
-static void finish_proc(struct call *);
+static void finish_proc(struct call *, bool discard);
 static void dump_packet_proc(struct media_packet *mp, const str *s);
 static void init_stream_proc(struct packet_stream *);
 static void setup_stream_proc(struct packet_stream *);
@@ -393,12 +393,20 @@ void recording_stop(struct call *call) {
 	}
 
 	ilog(LOG_NOTICE, "Turning off call recording.");
-	recording_finish(call);
+	recording_finish(call, false);
 }
 void recording_pause(struct call *call) {
 	ilog(LOG_NOTICE, "Pausing call recording.");
 	recording_update_flags(call, true);
 }
+void recording_discard(struct call *call) {
+	call->recording_on = 0;
+	if (!call->recording)
+		return;
+	ilog(LOG_NOTICE, "Turning off call recording and discarding outputs.");
+	recording_finish(call, true);
+}
+
 
 /**
  *
@@ -424,6 +432,10 @@ void detect_setup_recording(struct call *call, const struct sdp_ng_flags *flags)
 		call->recording_on = 0;
 		recording_stop(call);
 	}
+	else if (!str_cmp(recordcall, "discard") || flags->discard_recording) {
+		call->recording_on = 0;
+		recording_discard(call);
+	}
 	else if (recordcall->len != 0)
 		ilog(LOG_INFO, "\"record-call\" flag "STR_FORMAT" is invalid flag.", STR_FMT(recordcall));
 }
@@ -572,7 +584,23 @@ static void rec_pcap_meta_finish_file(struct call *call) {
 
 	mutex_destroy(&recording->u.pcap.recording_lock);
 	g_clear_pointer(&recording->u.pcap.meta_filepath, g_free);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Closes and discards all output files.
+ */
+static void rec_pcap_meta_discard_file(struct call *call) {
+	struct recording *recording = call->recording;
 
+	if (recording == NULL || recording->u.pcap.meta_fp == NULL)
+		return;
+
+	fclose(recording->u.pcap.meta_fp);
+	recording->u.pcap.meta_fp = NULL;
+
+	unlink(recording->u.pcap.recording_path);
+	unlink(recording->u.pcap.meta_filepath);
+	g_clear_pointer(&recording->u.pcap.meta_filepath, free);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -673,9 +701,12 @@ static void dump_packet_pcap(struct media_packet *mp, const str *s) {
 	mutex_unlock(&recording->u.pcap.recording_lock);
 }
 
-static void finish_pcap(struct call *call) {
+static void finish_pcap(struct call *call, bool discard) {
 	rec_pcap_recording_finish_file(call->recording);
-	rec_pcap_meta_finish_file(call);
+	if (!discard)
+		rec_pcap_meta_finish_file(call);
+	else
+		rec_pcap_meta_discard_file(call);
 }
 
 static void response_pcap(struct recording *recording, bencode_item_t *output) {
@@ -692,7 +723,7 @@ static void response_pcap(struct recording *recording, bencode_item_t *output) {
 
 
 
-void recording_finish(struct call *call) {
+void recording_finish(struct call *call, bool discard) {
 	if (!call || !call->recording)
 		return;
 
@@ -700,7 +731,7 @@ void recording_finish(struct call *call) {
 
 	struct recording *recording = call->recording;
 
-	_rm(finish, call);
+	_rm(finish, call, discard);
 
 	g_clear_pointer(&recording->meta_prefix, g_free);
 	g_clear_pointer(&recording->escaped_callid, free);
@@ -810,7 +841,7 @@ static void sdp_after_proc(struct recording *recording, GString *str, struct cal
 			"SDP from %u after %s", ml->unique_id, get_opmode_text(opmode));
 }
 
-static void finish_proc(struct call *call) {
+static void finish_proc(struct call *call, bool discard) {
 	struct recording *recording = call->recording;
 	if (!kernel.is_open)
 		return;
@@ -822,10 +853,25 @@ static void finish_proc(struct call *call) {
 		struct packet_stream *ps = l->data;
 		ps->recording.u.proc.stream_idx = UNINIT_IDX;
 	}
-	int ret = unlink(recording->u.proc.meta_filepath);
+
+	const char *unlink_fn = recording->u.proc.meta_filepath;
+	AUTO_CLEANUP_GBUF(discard_fn);
+	if (discard) {
+		discard_fn = g_strdup_printf("%s.DISCARD", recording->u.proc.meta_filepath);
+		int ret = rename(recording->u.proc.meta_filepath, discard_fn);
+		if (ret)
+			ilog(LOG_ERR, "Failed to rename metadata file \"%s\" to \"%s\": %s",
+					recording->u.proc.meta_filepath,
+					discard_fn,
+					strerror(errno));
+		unlink_fn = discard_fn;
+	}
+
+	int ret = unlink(unlink_fn);
 	if (ret)
 		ilog(LOG_ERR, "Failed to delete metadata file \"%s\": %s",
-				recording->u.proc.meta_filepath, strerror(errno));
+				unlink_fn, strerror(errno));
+
 	g_clear_pointer(&recording->u.proc.meta_filepath, free);
 }
 
@@ -969,7 +1015,7 @@ static void dump_packet_all(struct media_packet *mp, const str *s) {
 	dump_packet_proc(mp, s);
 }
 
-static void finish_all(struct call *call) {
-	finish_pcap(call);
-	finish_proc(call);
+static void finish_all(struct call *call, bool discard) {
+	finish_pcap(call, discard);
+	finish_proc(call, discard);
 }
diff --git a/docs/ng_control_protocol.md b/docs/ng_control_protocol.md
index 628f7b864..f1888fc5c 100644
--- a/docs/ng_control_protocol.md
+++ b/docs/ng_control_protocol.md
@@ -813,6 +813,11 @@ Spaces in each string may be replaced by hyphens.
 	the DSP to detect in-band DTMF audio tones even when it
 	wouldn't otherwise be necessary.
 
+* `discard recording`
+
+    When file recording is in use, instructs the recording daemon to discard
+    (delete) the recording files, as well as the database entries if present.
+
 * `early media`
 
     Used in conjunction with the audio player. If set, audio playback is
diff --git a/include/call_interfaces.h b/include/call_interfaces.h
index aa4558f8c..4869d0a96 100644
--- a/include/call_interfaces.h
+++ b/include/call_interfaces.h
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ struct sdp_ng_flags {
 		     siprec:1,
 	             fragment:1,
 	             record_call:1,
+		     discard_recording:1,
 		     debug:1,
 		     inactive:1,
 	             loop_protect:1,
diff --git a/include/recording.h b/include/recording.h
index 249da0be1..2a8e7348a 100644
--- a/include/recording.h
+++ b/include/recording.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ struct recording_method {
 	void (*update_flags)(struct call *call, bool streams);
 
 	void (*dump_packet)(struct media_packet *, const str *s);
-	void (*finish)(struct call *);
+	void (*finish)(struct call *, bool discard);
 	void (*response)(struct recording *, bencode_item_t *);
 
 	void (*init_stream_struct)(struct packet_stream *);
@@ -121,12 +121,13 @@ void update_metadata_monologue(struct call_monologue *ml, str *metadata);
 void recording_start(struct call *call, const char *prefix, str *output_dest);
 void recording_pause(struct call *call);
 void recording_stop(struct call *call);
+void recording_discard(struct call *call);
 
 
 #define meta_write_sdp_before(args...) _rm(sdp_before, args)
 #define meta_write_sdp_after(args...) _rm(sdp_after, args)
 
-void recording_finish(struct call *);
+void recording_finish(struct call *, bool discard);
 
 
 
diff --git a/recording-daemon/metafile.c b/recording-daemon/metafile.c
index c67deba58..163f03b0f 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/metafile.c
+++ b/recording-daemon/metafile.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ static void meta_free(void *ptr) {
 	metafile_t *mf = ptr;
 
 	dbg("freeing metafile info for %s%s%s", FMT_M(mf->name));
-	output_close(mf, mf->mix_out, NULL);
+	output_close(mf, mf->mix_out, NULL, mf->discard);
 	mix_destroy(mf->mix);
 	db_close_call(mf);
 	g_string_chunk_free(mf->gsc);
@@ -363,16 +363,28 @@ void metafile_delete(char *name) {
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&metafiles_lock);
 	metafile_t *mf = g_hash_table_lookup(metafiles, name);
 	if (!mf) {
-		// nothing to do
-		pthread_mutex_unlock(&metafiles_lock);
-		return;
+		// has it been renamed?
+		size_t len = strlen(name);
+		char *suffix = name + len - strlen(".DISCARD");
+		if (suffix > name && strcmp(suffix, ".DISCARD") == 0) {
+			*suffix = '\0';
+			mf = g_hash_table_lookup(metafiles, name);
+			if (mf)
+				mf->discard = 1;
+			*suffix = '.';
+		}
+		if (!mf) {
+			// nothing to do
+			pthread_mutex_unlock(&metafiles_lock);
+			return;
+		}
 	}
 	// switch locks and remove entry
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&mf->lock);
-	g_hash_table_remove(metafiles, name);
+	g_hash_table_remove(metafiles, mf->name);
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&metafiles_lock);
 
-	ilog(LOG_INFO, "Recording for call '%s%s%s' finished", FMT_M(name));
+	ilog(LOG_INFO, "Recording for call '%s%s%s' finished", FMT_M(mf->name));
 
 	meta_destroy(mf);
 
diff --git a/recording-daemon/output.c b/recording-daemon/output.c
index a747e9360..4fa115375 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/output.c
+++ b/recording-daemon/output.c
@@ -339,15 +339,24 @@ static bool output_shutdown(output_t *output) {
 }
 
 
-void output_close(metafile_t *mf, output_t *output, tag_t *tag) {
+void output_close(metafile_t *mf, output_t *output, tag_t *tag, bool discard) {
 	if (!output)
 		return;
-	if (output_shutdown(output)) {
-		db_close_stream(output);
-		notify_push_output(output, mf, tag);
+	if (!discard) {
+		if (output_shutdown(output)) {
+			db_close_stream(output);
+			notify_push_output(output, mf, tag);
+		}
+		else
+			db_delete_stream(mf, output);
 	}
-	else
+	else {
+		output_shutdown(output);
+		if (unlink(output->filename))
+			ilog(LOG_WARN, "Failed to unlink '%s%s%s': %s",
+					FMT_M(output->filename), strerror(errno));
 		db_delete_stream(mf, output);
+	}
 	encoder_free(output->encoder);
 	g_clear_pointer(&output->full_filename, g_free);
 	g_clear_pointer(&output->file_path, g_free);
diff --git a/recording-daemon/output.h b/recording-daemon/output.h
index f4264b23a..c4af6cf79 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/output.h
+++ b/recording-daemon/output.h
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ void output_init(const char *format);
 
 output_t *output_new(const char *path, const char *call, const char *type, const char *kind, const char *label);
 output_t *output_new_from_full_path(const char *path, char *name, const char *kind);
-void output_close(metafile_t *, output_t *, tag_t *);
+void output_close(metafile_t *, output_t *, tag_t *, bool discard);
 
 int output_config(output_t *output, const format_t *requested_format, format_t *actual_format);
 int output_add(output_t *output, AVFrame *frame);
diff --git a/recording-daemon/packet.c b/recording-daemon/packet.c
index 3220482c5..06b75cdb9 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/packet.c
+++ b/recording-daemon/packet.c
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ void ssrc_tls_state(ssrc_t *ssrc) {
 
 
 void ssrc_close(ssrc_t *s) {
-	output_close(s->metafile, s->output, tag_get(s->metafile, s->stream->tag));
+	output_close(s->metafile, s->output, tag_get(s->metafile, s->stream->tag), s->metafile->discard);
 	s->output = NULL;
 	for (int i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS(s->decoders); i++) {
 		decoder_free(s->decoders[i]);
diff --git a/recording-daemon/types.h b/recording-daemon/types.h
index e4b7ef7c2..4d699fcf8 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/types.h
+++ b/recording-daemon/types.h
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ struct metafile_s {
 
 	unsigned int recording_on:1;
 	unsigned int forwarding_on:1;
+	unsigned int discard:1;
 };