diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index d84f46e54..7b84ea034 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ Template for new versions:
 ## New Features
 
 ## Fixes
+- `empty-bin`: renamed ``--liquids`` parameter to ``--force`` and made emptying of containers (bags) with powders contingent on that parameter. Previously powders would just always get disposed.
 
 ## Misc Improvements
 
diff --git a/docs/empty-bin.rst b/docs/empty-bin.rst
index 1d45eb81a..e6e8bf408 100644
--- a/docs/empty-bin.rst
+++ b/docs/empty-bin.rst
@@ -25,18 +25,20 @@ Examples
 --------
 
 ``empty-bin``
-    Empty the contents of selected containers or all containers in the selected stockpile or building, except containers with liquids, onto the floor.
+   Empty the contents of selected containers or all containers in the selected stockpile or building, except containers with liquids or powders, onto the floor.
 
-``empty-bin --liquids``
-    Empty the contents of selected containers or all containers in the selected stockpile or building, including containers with liquids, onto the floor.
+``empty-bin --force``
+   Empty the contents of selected containers or all containers in the selected stockpile or building, including containers with liquids or powders, onto the floor.
+
+``empty-bin --recursive --force``
+   Empty the contents of selected containers or all containers in the selected stockpile or building, including containers with liquids/powders and containers contents that are containers, such as a bags of seeds or filled waterskins, onto the floor.
 
-``empty-bin --recursive --liquids``
-    Empty the contents of selected containers or all containers in the selected stockpile or building, including containers with liquids and containers contents that are containers, such as a bags of seeds or filled waterskins, onto the floor.
 
 Options
---------------
+-------
 
 ``-r``, ``--recursive``
-    Recursively empty containers.
-``-l``, ``--liquids``
-    Move contained liquids (DRINK and LIQUID_MISC) to the floor, making them unusable.
+   Recursively empty containers.
+
+``-f``, ``--force``
+   Move contained liquid and powders (DRINK, LIQUID_MISC and POWDER_MISC) to the floor, making them unusable.
diff --git a/empty-bin.lua b/empty-bin.lua
index 8e38c13d8..0f2a183db 100644
--- a/empty-bin.lua
+++ b/empty-bin.lua
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ local argparse = require('argparse')
 local options, args = {
         help = false,
         recursive = false,
-        liquids = false
+        force = false
     },
     {...}
 
@@ -18,9 +18,10 @@ local function emptyContainer(container)
         print('Emptying ' .. dfhack.items.getReadableDescription(container))
         local pos = xyz2pos(dfhack.items.getPosition(container))
         for _, item in ipairs(items) do
-            local skip_liquid = not options.liquids and (item:getType() == df.item_type.LIQUID_MISC or item:getType() == df.item_type.DRINK)
-            if skip_liquid then
-                print('  ' .. dfhack.items.getReadableDescription(item) .. ' was skipped because the --liquids flag was not provided')
+            local itemType = item:getType()
+            local skip = not options.force and (itemType == df.item_type.LIQUID_MISC or itemType == df.item_type.DRINK or itemType == df.item_type.POWDER_MISC)
+            if skip then
+                print('  ' .. dfhack.items.getReadableDescription(item) .. ' was skipped (use --force to override)')
             else
                 print('  ' .. dfhack.items.getReadableDescription(item))
                 dfhack.items.moveToGround(item, pos)
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ end
 argparse.processArgsGetopt(args,{
     { 'h', 'help', handler = function() options.help = true end },
     { 'r', 'recursive', handler = function() options.recursive = true end },
-    { 'l', 'liquids', handler = function() options.liquids = true end }
+    { 'f', 'force', handler = function() options.force = true end }
     })
 
 if options.help then