diff --git a/doc/management.txt b/doc/management.txt
index ec9e1164d..f83afbe03 100644
--- a/doc/management.txt
+++ b/doc/management.txt
@@ -2130,10 +2130,12 @@ del backend <name>
   This operation is only possible for TCP or HTTP proxies. To succeed, the
   backend instance must have been first unpublished.
 
-  There is also additional restrictions which prevent backend removal.
-  Currently, this is the case when deprecated dispatch or option transparent
-  are used. Also, a backend cannot be removed if there is a stick-table
-  declared in it.
+  There is additional restrictions which prevent backend removal. First, a
+  backend cannot be removed if it is explicitely referenced by config elements,
+  for example via a use_backend rule or in sample expressions. Some proxies
+  options are also incompatible with runtime deletion. Currently, this is the
+  case when deprecated dispatch or option transparent are used. Also, a backend
+  cannot be removed if there is a stick-table declared in it.
 
   This command is restricted and can only be issued on sockets configured for
   level "admin". Moreover, this feature is still considered in development so it
diff --git a/include/haproxy/proxy-t.h b/include/haproxy/proxy-t.h
index b865ba2bd..833c55147 100644
--- a/include/haproxy/proxy-t.h
+++ b/include/haproxy/proxy-t.h
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ enum PR_SRV_STATE_FILE {
 #define PR_FL_CHECKED            0x00000040  /* The proxy configuration was fully checked (including postparsing checks) */
 #define PR_FL_BE_UNPUBLISHED     0x00000080  /* The proxy cannot be targetted by content switching rules */
 #define PR_FL_DELETED            0x00000100  /* Proxy has been deleted and must be manipulated with care */
+#define PR_FL_NON_PURGEABLE      0x00000200  /* Proxy referenced by config elements which prevent its runtime removal. */
 
 struct stream;
 
diff --git a/src/proxy.c b/src/proxy.c
index 7dde62887..1e5a168b2 100644
--- a/src/proxy.c
+++ b/src/proxy.c
@@ -1982,6 +1982,8 @@ int proxy_finalize(struct proxy *px, int *err_code)
 				 */
 				px->options |= PR_O_HTTP_UPG;
 			}
+
+			target->flags |= PR_FL_NON_PURGEABLE;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -2058,6 +2060,8 @@ int proxy_finalize(struct proxy *px, int *err_code)
 				 */
 				px->options |= PR_O_HTTP_UPG;
 			}
+
+			target->flags |= PR_FL_NON_PURGEABLE;
 		}
 		*err_code |= warnif_tcp_http_cond(px, rule->cond);
 	}
@@ -5014,6 +5018,11 @@ int be_check_for_deletion(const char *bename, struct proxy **pb, const char **pm
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	if (be->cap & PR_CAP_FE) {
+		msg = "Cannot delete a listen section.";
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	if (be->options & (PR_O_DISPATCH|PR_O_TRANSP)) {
 		msg = "Deletion of backend with deprecated dispatch/transparent options is not supported.";
 		goto out;
@@ -5024,8 +5033,8 @@ int be_check_for_deletion(const char *bename, struct proxy **pb, const char **pm
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	if (be->cap & PR_CAP_FE) {
-		msg = "Cannot delete a listen section.";
+	if (be->flags & PR_FL_NON_PURGEABLE) {
+		msg = "This proxy cannot be removed at runtime due to other configuration elements pointing to it.";
 		goto out;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/sample.c b/src/sample.c
index 18f7f1c26..7e3d195dc 100644
--- a/src/sample.c
+++ b/src/sample.c
@@ -1512,6 +1512,7 @@ int smp_resolve_args(struct proxy *p, char **err)
 				break;
 			}
 
+			/* TODO CLI set-var should not prevent server deletion as var value is instantly resolved. */
 			srv->flags |= SRV_F_NON_PURGEABLE;
 
 			chunk_destroy(&arg->data.str);
@@ -1541,6 +1542,9 @@ int smp_resolve_args(struct proxy *p, char **err)
 				break;
 			}
 
+			/* TODO CLI set-var should not prevent proxy deletion as var value is instantly resolved. */
+			px->flags |= PR_FL_NON_PURGEABLE;
+
 			chunk_destroy(&arg->data.str);
 			arg->unresolved = 0;
 			arg->data.prx = px;
@@ -1568,6 +1572,9 @@ int smp_resolve_args(struct proxy *p, char **err)
 				break;
 			}
 
+			/* TODO CLI set-var should not prevent proxy deletion as var value is instantly resolved. */
+			px->flags |= PR_FL_NON_PURGEABLE;
+
 			chunk_destroy(&arg->data.str);
 			arg->unresolved = 0;
 			arg->data.prx = px;