diff --git a/commands/release/stage/command.go b/commands/release/stage/command.go
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/commands/release/stage/command.go
+++ b/commands/release/stage/command.go
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func runMain() (err error) {
 	// Delete the local release branch.
 	task = fmt.Sprintf("Delete branch '%v'", releaseBranch)
 	log.Run(task)
-	if err := git.Branch("-d", releaseBranch); err != nil {
+	if err := git.Branch("-D", releaseBranch); err != nil {
 		return errs.NewError(task, err)
 	}
 	defer action.RollbackTaskOnError(&err, task, action.ActionFunc(func() error {
release stage: Use git branch -D

Use -D while deleting the local release branch.

Story-Id: unassigned
Change-Id: a0b5b<I>b7