diff --git a/e2e-tests/src/test/resources/data/com/google/gerrit/scenarios/DeleteProject-body.json b/e2e-tests/src/test/resources/data/com/google/gerrit/scenarios/DeleteProject-body.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..488de6de53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e-tests/src/test/resources/data/com/google/gerrit/scenarios/DeleteProject-body.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "force": "${force_project_deletion}"
+}
diff --git a/e2e-tests/src/test/scala/com/google/gerrit/scenarios/DeleteProject.scala b/e2e-tests/src/test/scala/com/google/gerrit/scenarios/DeleteProject.scala
index 17526348bc..eb4df30193 100644
--- a/e2e-tests/src/test/scala/com/google/gerrit/scenarios/DeleteProject.scala
+++ b/e2e-tests/src/test/scala/com/google/gerrit/scenarios/DeleteProject.scala
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import io.gatling.core.structure.ScenarioBuilder
 
 class DeleteProject extends ProjectSimulation {
   private val data: FeederBuilder = jsonFile(resource).convert(keys).queue
+  private val forceKey = "force_project_deletion"
 
   def this(projectName: String) {
     this()
@@ -28,7 +29,10 @@ class DeleteProject extends ProjectSimulation {
 
   val test: ScenarioBuilder = scenario(uniqueName)
       .feed(data)
-      .exec(httpRequest)
+      .exec(session => {
+        session.set(forceKey, getProperty(forceKey, "false"))
+      })
+      .exec(httpRequest.body(ElFileBody(body)).asJson)
 
   setUp(
     test.inject(