diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 423e8eec..6b0ea347 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ Makefile
 /tests/contiguous-note-sections
 /tests/simple-pie
 /tests/simple-execstack
+/tests/symver
 
 .direnv/
 .vscode/
diff --git a/patchelf.1 b/patchelf.1
index 7bb94f7f..89c18ef6 100644
--- a/patchelf.1
+++ b/patchelf.1
@@ -114,6 +114,11 @@ This means that when a shared library has an entry point (so that it
 can be run as an executable), the debugger does not connect to it correctly and
 symbols are not resolved.
 
+.IP "--remove-needed-version LIBRARY VERSION_SYMBOL"
+Removes VERSION_SYMBOL from LIBRARY in .gnu.version_r and resets entries referenced
+the version in .gnu.version, could be used to remove symbol versioning. LIBRARY and
+VERSION_SYMBOL can be retrieved from the output of "readelf -V".
+
 .IP "--print-execstack"
 Prints the state of the executable flag of the GNU_STACK program header, if present.
 
diff --git a/src/patchelf.cc b/src/patchelf.cc
index 14c0802b..c0332d18 100644
--- a/src/patchelf.cc
+++ b/src/patchelf.cc
@@ -2269,6 +2269,174 @@ void ElfFile<ElfFileParamNames>::renameDynamicSymbols(const std::unordered_map<s
     this->rewriteSections();
 }
 
+template<ElfFileParams>
+void ElfFile<ElfFileParamNames>::removeNeededVersion(const std::map<std::string, std::set<std::string>> & verMap)
+{
+    if (verMap.empty()) return;
+
+    auto idxVersionR = getSectionIndex(".gnu.version_r");
+    if (!idxVersionR) {
+        error("no .gnu.version_r section found\n");
+        return;
+    }
+    auto & shdrVersionR = shdrs.at(idxVersionR);
+    Elf_Shdr & shdrVersionRStrings = shdrs.at(rdi(shdrVersionR.sh_link));
+
+    auto mapOffset = rdi(shdrVersionR.sh_addr) - rdi(shdrVersionR.sh_offset);
+
+    size_t verNeedNum = rdi(shdrVersionR.sh_info);
+    std::set<size_t> removedVersionIds;
+
+    // file names and versions here
+    char * verStrTab = (char *) fileContents->data() + rdi(shdrVersionRStrings.sh_offset);
+
+    debug("found .gnu.version_r with %i entries\n", verNeedNum);
+
+    bool removeEntireSection = false;
+
+    auto vn = (Elf_Verneed *)(fileContents->data() + rdi(shdrVersionR.sh_offset));
+    Elf_Verneed * prevVn = nullptr;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < verNeedNum; ++i) {
+        char * file = verStrTab + rdi(vn->vn_file);
+
+        if (verMap.count(file)) {
+            size_t verNauxNum = rdi(vn->vn_cnt);
+            size_t newVerNauxNum = 0;
+
+            auto va = (follow<Elf_Vernaux>(vn, rdi(vn->vn_aux)));
+            Elf_Vernaux * prevVa = nullptr;
+
+            auto & versions = verMap.at(file);
+
+            for (size_t j = 0; j < verNauxNum; ++j) {
+                char * name = verStrTab + rdi(va->vna_name);
+
+                auto version = rdi(va->vna_other);
+                off_t next = rdi(va->vna_next);
+                if (versions.count(name)) {
+                    debug("removing symbol %s with version %d in entry %s\n", name, version, file);
+                    // 1 for unversioned symbol
+                    removedVersionIds.insert(version);
+
+                    if (prevVa) {
+                        wri(prevVa->vna_next, next ? rdi(prevVa->vna_next) + next : 0);
+                    } else {
+                        wri(vn->vn_aux, next ? rdi(vn->vn_aux) + next : 0);
+                    }
+                    changed = true;
+
+                    auto nextVa = follow<Elf_Vernaux>(va, next);
+                    // remove the version data
+                    memset(va, 0, sizeof(Elf_Vernaux));
+                    va = nextVa;
+                } else {
+                    debug("keeping symbol %s with version %d in entry %s\n", name, version, file);
+                    ++newVerNauxNum;
+                    prevVa = va;
+                    va = follow<Elf_Vernaux>(va, next);
+                }
+            }
+            
+            off_t next = rdi(vn->vn_next);
+            // there are versions left
+            if (prevVa) {
+                wri(vn->vn_cnt, newVerNauxNum);
+                prevVn = vn;
+                vn = follow<Elf_Verneed>(vn, next);
+            } else {
+                // remove entire file entry
+                if (prevVn) {
+                    wri(prevVn->vn_next, next ? rdi(prevVn->vn_next) + next : 0);
+                } else {
+                    // there are file entries left
+                    if (next) {
+                        wri(shdrVersionR.sh_offset, rdi(shdrVersionR.sh_offset) + next);
+                    } else {
+                        wri(shdrVersionR.sh_size, 0);
+                        
+                        removeEntireSection = true;
+                    }
+                }
+                wri(shdrVersionR.sh_info, rdi(shdrVersionR.sh_info) - 1);
+
+                Elf_Verneed * nextVn = follow<Elf_Verneed>(vn, next);
+                memset(vn, 0, sizeof(Elf_Verneed));
+                vn = nextVn;
+            }
+        } else {
+            off_t next = rdi(vn->vn_next);
+            prevVn = vn;
+            vn = follow<Elf_Verneed>(vn, next);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // virtual address and file offset need to be the same
+    if (!removeEntireSection) {
+        wri(shdrVersionR.sh_addr, mapOffset + rdi(shdrVersionR.sh_offset));
+    }
+
+    if (auto shdrDynamic = tryFindSectionHeader(".dynamic")) {
+        auto dyn = (Elf_Dyn *)(fileContents->data() + rdi(shdrDynamic->get().sh_offset));
+
+        // keep DT_VERNEED and DT_VERNEEDNUM in sync, DT_VERNEED handled by rewriteHeaders
+        Elf_Dyn * last = dyn;
+        for ( ; rdi(dyn->d_tag) != DT_NULL; dyn++) {
+            if (rdi(dyn->d_tag) == DT_VERNEEDNUM) {
+                if (!removeEntireSection) {
+                    dyn->d_un.d_val = shdrVersionR.sh_info;
+                    *last++ = *dyn;
+                }
+            } else if (rdi(dyn->d_tag) == DT_VERNEED) {
+                if (!removeEntireSection) {
+                    *last++ = *dyn;
+                }
+            } else if (rdi(dyn->d_tag) == DT_VERSYM) {
+                if (!removeEntireSection) {
+                    *last++ = *dyn;
+                }
+            } else {
+                *last++ = *dyn;
+            }
+        }
+        memset(last, 0, sizeof(Elf_Dyn) * (dyn - last));
+    }
+
+    auto spanVersyms = tryGetSectionSpan<Elf_Versym>(".gnu.version");
+
+    if (spanVersyms) {
+        for (auto & versym : spanVersyms) {
+            if (removedVersionIds.count(versym)) {
+                wri(versym, 1);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (removeEntireSection) {
+        debug("removing .gnu.version_r and .gnu.version section\n");
+        wri(shdrVersionR.sh_type, SHT_NULL);
+        auto idxVersion = getSectionIndex(".gnu.version");
+        if (idxVersion) {
+            auto & shdrVersion = shdrs.at(idxVersion);
+            wri(shdrVersion.sh_type, SHT_NULL);
+            memset(fileContents->data() + rdi(shdrVersion.sh_offset), 0, rdi(shdrVersion.sh_size));
+            wri(shdrVersion.sh_size, 0);
+        }
+    } else {
+        debug("remaining entries in .gnu.version_r: %i\n", rdi(shdrVersionR.sh_info));
+    }
+
+    // we did not change phdrAddress, rewrite it in place
+    Elf_Addr phdrAddress;
+    for (auto & phdr : phdrs) {
+        if (rdi(phdr.p_type) == PT_PHDR) {
+            phdrAddress = rdi(phdr.p_vaddr);
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    rewriteHeaders(phdrAddress);
+}
+
 template<ElfFileParams>
 void ElfFile<ElfFileParamNames>::clearSymbolVersions(const std::set<std::string> & syms)
 {
@@ -2430,6 +2598,7 @@ static bool addDebugTag = false;
 static bool renameDynamicSymbols = false;
 static bool printRPath = false;
 static std::string newRPath;
+static std::map<std::string, std::set<std::string>> neededVersionsToRemove;
 static std::set<std::string> neededLibsToRemove;
 static std::map<std::string, std::string> neededLibsToReplace;
 static std::set<std::string> neededLibsToAdd;
@@ -2484,6 +2653,7 @@ static void patchElf2(ElfFile && elfFile, const FileContents & fileContents, con
 
     if (printNeeded) elfFile.printNeededLibs();
 
+    elfFile.removeNeededVersion(neededVersionsToRemove);
     elfFile.removeNeeded(neededLibsToRemove);
     elfFile.replaceNeeded(neededLibsToReplace);
     elfFile.addNeeded(neededLibsToAdd);
@@ -2559,6 +2729,7 @@ static void showHelp(const std::string & progName)
   [--clear-symbol-version SYMBOL]\n\
   [--add-debug-tag]\n\
   [--print-execstack]\t\tPrints whether the object requests an executable stack\n\
+  [--remove-needed-version LIBRARY VERSION_SYMBOL]\n\
   [--clear-execstack]\n\
   [--set-execstack]\n\
   [--rename-dynamic-symbols NAME_MAP_FILE]\tRenames dynamic symbols. The map file should contain two symbols (old_name new_name) per line\n\
@@ -2667,6 +2838,11 @@ static int mainWrapped(int argc, char * * argv)
             neededLibsToReplace[ argv[i+1] ] = argv[i+2];
             i += 2;
         }
+        else if (arg == "--remove-needed-version") {
+            if (i+2 >= argc) error("missing argument(s)");
+            neededVersionsToRemove[ argv[i+1] ].insert(resolveArgument(argv[i+2]));
+            i += 2;
+        }
         else if (arg == "--clear-symbol-version") {
             if (++i == argc) error("missing argument");
             symbolsToClearVersion.insert(resolveArgument(argv[i]));
diff --git a/src/patchelf.h b/src/patchelf.h
index 5ed1b585..7739bba9 100644
--- a/src/patchelf.h
+++ b/src/patchelf.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
+#include <unordered_map>
 
 #include "elf.h"
 
@@ -170,6 +171,8 @@ class ElfFile
 
     void renameDynamicSymbols(const std::unordered_map<std::string_view, std::string>&);
 
+    void removeNeededVersion(const std::map<std::string, std::set<std::string>> & verMap);
+
     void clearSymbolVersions(const std::set<std::string> & syms);
 
     enum class ExecstackMode { print, set, clear };
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index b08929f1..f28f6736 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 LIBS =
 
-check_PROGRAMS = simple-pie simple simple-execstack main too-many-strtab main-scoped big-dynstr no-rpath contiguous-note-sections
+check_PROGRAMS = simple-pie simple simple-execstack main too-many-strtab main-scoped big-dynstr no-rpath contiguous-note-sections \
+				 symver
 
 no_rpath_arch_TESTS = \
   no-rpath-alpha.sh \
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ src_TESTS = \
   shared-rpath.sh \
   short-first-segment.sh \
   empty-note.sh \
+  remove-needed-version.sh \
   set-interpreter-same.sh
 
 build_TESTS = \
@@ -125,7 +127,8 @@ check_DATA = libbig-dynstr.debug
 # - with libtool, it is difficult to control options
 # - with libtool, it is not possible to compile convenience *dynamic* libraries :-(
 check_PROGRAMS += libfoo.so libfoo-scoped.so libbar.so libbar-scoped.so libsimple.so libsimple-execstack.so libbuildid.so libtoomanystrtab.so \
-                  phdr-corruption.so many-syms-main libmany-syms.so liboveralign.so libshared-rpath.so
+                  phdr-corruption.so many-syms-main libmany-syms.so liboveralign.so libshared-rpath.so \
+				  libsymver.so libsymver-old.so
 
 libbuildid_so_SOURCES = simple.c
 libbuildid_so_LDFLAGS = $(LDFLAGS_sharedlib) -Wl,--build-id
@@ -183,6 +186,18 @@ phdr_corruption_so_SOURCES = void.c phdr-corruption.ld
 phdr_corruption_so_LDFLAGS = -nostdlib -shared -Wl,-T$(srcdir)/phdr-corruption.ld
 phdr_corruption_so_CFLAGS =
 
+libsymver_so_SOURCES = libsymver.c
+libsymver_so_LDFLAGS = $(LDFLAGS_sharedlib) -Wl,--version-script=libsymver.map
+libsymver_so_CFLAGS = $(AM_CFLAGS)
+libsymver_old_so_SOURCES = libsymver-old.c
+libsymver_old_so_LDFLAGS = $(LDFLAGS_sharedlib) -Wl,--version-script=libsymver-old.map
+libsymver_old_so_CFLAGS = $(AM_CFLAGS)
+symver_SOURCES = symver.c
+symver_LDFLAGS = $(LDFLAGS_local)
+symver_LDADD = -lsymver $(AM_LDADD)
+symver_DEPENDENCIES = libsymver.so libsymver-old.so
+symver_CFLAGS = $(AM_CFLAGS)
+
 many-syms.c:
 	i=1; while [ $$i -le 2000 ]; do echo "void f$$i() {};"; i=$$(($$i + 1)); done > $@
 
diff --git a/tests/libsymver-old.c b/tests/libsymver-old.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6deff366
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/libsymver-old.c
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+__asm__(".symver foo_v1, foo@@V1");
+
+void foo_v1() {
+    printf("foo_v1\n");
+}
+
+void bar() {
+    printf("bar_unver\n");
+}
diff --git a/tests/libsymver-old.map b/tests/libsymver-old.map
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..41d6fd70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/libsymver-old.map
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+V1 {
+    global: foo;
+    local: foo_v1;
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/libsymver.c b/tests/libsymver.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..53fca67e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/libsymver.c
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+__asm__(".symver foo_v1, foo@V1");
+__asm__(".symver foo_v2, foo@@V2");
+
+void foo_v1() {
+    printf("foo_v1\n");
+}
+
+void foo_v2() {
+    printf("foo_v2\n");
+}
+
+
+// version defined in version script
+void bar() {
+    printf("bar_ver\n");
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/libsymver.map b/tests/libsymver.map
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2ef0ac22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/libsymver.map
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+V1 {
+    global: foo;
+    local: foo_v1;
+};
+V2 {
+    global: foo;
+    local: foo_v2;
+};
+VER {
+    global: bar;
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/remove-needed-version.sh b/tests/remove-needed-version.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..1b8264c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/remove-needed-version.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#! /bin/sh -e
+SCRATCH="scratch/$(basename "$0" .sh)"
+PATCHELF="$(readlink -f "../src/patchelf")"
+READELF="${READELF:-readelf}"
+MAIN=symver
+LIBNEW=libsymver.so
+LIBOLD=libsymver-old.so
+
+
+rm -rf "$SCRATCH"
+mkdir -p "$SCRATCH"
+
+cp $MAIN $LIBNEW $LIBOLD "${SCRATCH}/"
+
+cd "$SCRATCH"
+
+fail() {
+    echo $1
+    "$READELF" -a -W $MAIN
+    "$READELF" -a -W $LIBNEW
+    "$READELF" -a -W $LIBOLD
+    exit $2
+}
+
+# sanity check
+exit_code=0
+LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$PWD" ./${MAIN} || exit_code=$?
+if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+  fail "basic check" $exit_code
+fi
+
+# replace with old version
+mv $LIBOLD $LIBNEW
+
+# should NOT run before patch
+exit_code=0
+LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$PWD" ./${MAIN} || exit_code=$?
+if [ $exit_code -eq 0 ]; then
+  fail "patch check" 1
+fi
+
+${PATCHELF} --remove-needed-version $LIBNEW V2 \
+            --remove-needed-version $LIBNEW VER $MAIN || fail "patchelf" -1 
+
+# should run after removing version
+exit_code=0
+LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$PWD" ./${MAIN} || exit_code=$?
+if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
+  fail "patch check" $exit_code
+fi
diff --git a/tests/symver.c b/tests/symver.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa9dad8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/symver.c
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+void foo();
+void bar();
+
+int main() {
+    foo();
+    bar();
+}
\ No newline at end of file