diff --git a/openmc/material.py b/openmc/material.py
index 47f39b990d..3c2a98ffd3 100644
--- a/openmc/material.py
+++ b/openmc/material.py
@@ -423,6 +423,23 @@ class Material(IDManagerMixin):
             if nuclide == nuc.name:
                 self.nuclides.remove(nuc)
 
+    def remove_element(self, element):
+        """Remove an element from the material
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        element : str
+            Element to remove
+
+        """
+        cv.check_type('element', element, str)
+
+        # If the Material contains the element, delete it
+        for nuc in reversed(self.nuclides):
+            element_name = re.split(r'\d+', nuc.name)[0]
+            if element_name == element:
+                self.nuclides.remove(nuc)
+
     def add_macroscopic(self, macroscopic):
         """Add a macroscopic to the material.  This will also set the
         density of the material to 1.0, unless it has been otherwise set,
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_material.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_material.py
index c56c350b02..c15a4b9e55 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_material.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_material.py
@@ -38,6 +38,17 @@ def test_remove_nuclide():
     assert m.nuclides[1].percent == 2.0
 
 
+def test_remove_elements():
+    """Test removing elements."""
+    m = openmc.Material()
+    for elem, percent in [('Li', 1.0), ('Be', 1.0)]:
+        m.add_element(elem, percent)
+    m.remove_element('Li')
+    assert len(m.nuclides) == 1
+    assert m.nuclides[0].name == 'Be9'
+    assert m.nuclides[0].percent == 1.0
+
+
 def test_elements():
     """Test adding elements."""
     m = openmc.Material()