diff --git a/src/util/fields.py b/src/util/fields.py
index ee66fda1f..1e6c3295b 100644
--- a/src/util/fields.py
+++ b/src/util/fields.py
@@ -190,7 +190,23 @@ def filter_value(key, value):
     return changed
 
 
-def remove_field(cr, model, fieldname, cascade=False, drop_column=True, skip_inherit=(), keep_as_attachments=False):
+def _rm_field_adapter(leaf, is_or, negated):
+    # replace by TRUE_LEAF, unless negated or in a OR operation but not negated
+    if is_or ^ negated:
+        return [FALSE_LEAF]
+    return [TRUE_LEAF]
+
+
+def remove_field(
+    cr,
+    model,
+    fieldname,
+    cascade=False,
+    drop_column=True,
+    skip_inherit=(),
+    keep_as_attachments=False,
+    update_references=True,
+):
     """
     Remove a field and its references from the database.
 
@@ -206,6 +222,7 @@ def remove_field(cr, model, fieldname, cascade=False, drop_column=True, skip_inh
                                           of the field, use `"*"` to skip all
     :param bool keep_as_attachments: for binary fields, whether the data should be kept
                                      as attachments
+    :param bool update_references: whether to update all references
     """
     _validate_model(model)
 
@@ -225,23 +242,20 @@ def remove_field(cr, model, fieldname, cascade=False, drop_column=True, skip_inh
 
     _remove_import_export_paths(cr, model, fieldname)
 
-    def adapter(leaf, is_or, negated):
-        # replace by TRUE_LEAF, unless negated or in a OR operation but not negated
-        if is_or ^ negated:
-            return [FALSE_LEAF]
-        return [TRUE_LEAF]
-
-    related = None
-    if column_exists(cr, "ir_model_fields", "related"):
-        cr.execute("SELECT related FROM ir_model_fields WHERE model=%s AND name=%s", [model, fieldname])
-        if cr.rowcount:
-            related = cr.fetchone()[0]
-
-    if related:
-        update_field_usage(cr, model, fieldname, related, skip_inherit=skip_inherit)
-    else:
-        # clean domains
-        adapt_domains(cr, model, fieldname, "ignored", adapter=adapter, skip_inherit=skip_inherit, force_adapt=True)
+    if update_references:
+        related = None
+        if column_exists(cr, "ir_model_fields", "related"):
+            cr.execute("SELECT related FROM ir_model_fields WHERE model=%s AND name=%s", [model, fieldname])
+            if cr.rowcount:
+                related = cr.fetchone()[0]
+
+        if related:
+            update_field_usage(cr, model, fieldname, related, skip_inherit=skip_inherit)
+        else:
+            # clean domains
+            adapt_domains(
+                cr, model, fieldname, "ignored", adapter=_rm_field_adapter, skip_inherit=skip_inherit, force_adapt=True
+            )
 
     if table_exists(cr, "ir_server_object_lines"):
         cr.execute(
@@ -441,6 +455,7 @@ def adapter(leaf, is_or, negated):
             drop_column=drop_column,
             skip_inherit=skip_inherit,
             keep_as_attachments=keep_as_attachments,
+            update_references=update_references,
         )