diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonConfiguration.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonConfiguration.java
index c5e8d93..9acc4cf 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonConfiguration.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonConfiguration.java
@@ -90,8 +90,7 @@
    * Returns the Python version to use.
    *
    * <p>Specified using either the {@code --python_version} flag and {@code python_version} rule
-   * attribute (new API), or the {@code --force_python} flag and {@code default_python_version} rule
-   * attribute (old API).
+   * attribute (new API), or the {@code default_python_version} rule attribute (old API).
    */
   public PythonVersion getPythonVersion() {
     return version;
@@ -135,11 +134,6 @@
   @Override
   public void reportInvalidOptions(EventHandler reporter, BuildOptions buildOptions) {
     PythonOptions opts = buildOptions.get(PythonOptions.class);
-    if (opts.forcePython != null && opts.incompatibleRemoveOldPythonVersionApi) {
-      reporter.handle(
-          Event.error(
-              "`--force_python` is disabled by `--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api`"));
-    }
     if (opts.incompatiblePy3IsDefault && !opts.incompatibleAllowPythonVersionTransitions) {
       reporter.handle(
           Event.error(
@@ -168,10 +162,7 @@
     return buildTransitiveRunfilesTrees;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Returns whether use of {@code --force_python} flag and {@code default_python_version} attribute
-   * is allowed.
-   */
+  /** Returns whether use of the {@code default_python_version} attribute is allowed. */
   public boolean oldPyVersionApiAllowed() {
     return oldPyVersionApiAllowed;
   }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java
index aca45d8..44b835c4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
         OptionMetadataTag.TRIGGERED_BY_ALL_INCOMPATIBLE_CHANGES
       },
       help =
-          "If true, disables use of the `--force_python` flag and the `default_python_version` "
+          "If true, disables use of the `default_python_version` "
               + "attribute for `py_binary` and `py_test`. Use the `--python_version` flag and "
               + "`python_version` attribute instead, which have exactly the same meaning. This "
               + "flag also disables `select()`-ing over `--host_force_python`.")
@@ -169,25 +169,17 @@
       OptionsParser.getOptionDefinitionByName(PythonOptions.class, "python_version");
 
   /**
-   * This field should be either null (unset), {@code PY2}, or {@code PY3}. Other {@code
-   * PythonVersion} values do not represent distinct Python versions and are not allowed.
+   * Deprecated machinery for setting the Python version; will be removed soon.
    *
-   * <p>This flag is not accessible to the user when {@link #incompatibleRemoveOldPythonVersionApi}
-   * is true.
-   *
-   * <p>Native rule logic should call {@link #getPythonVersion} / {@link #setPythonVersion} instead
-   * of accessing this option directly. BUILD/.bzl code should {@code select()} on {@code <tools
-   * repo>//tools/python:python_version} rather than on this option directly.
+   * <p>Not in GraveyardOptions because we still want to prohibit users from select()ing on it.
    */
   @Option(
       name = "force_python",
       defaultValue = "null",
       converter = TargetPythonVersionConverter.class,
-      documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.OUTPUT_PARAMETERS,
+      documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.UNDOCUMENTED,
       effectTags = {OptionEffectTag.LOADING_AND_ANALYSIS, OptionEffectTag.AFFECTS_OUTPUTS},
-      help =
-          "Deprecated alias for `--python_version`. Disabled by "
-              + "`--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api`.")
+      help = "No-op, will be removed soon.")
   public PythonVersion forcePython;
 
   private static final OptionDefinition FORCE_PYTHON_DEFINITION =
@@ -322,14 +314,12 @@
   /**
    * Returns the Python major version ({@code PY2} or {@code PY3}) that targets should be built for.
    *
-   * <p>The version is taken as the value of {@code --python_version} if not null, otherwise {@code
-   * --force_python} if not null, otherwise {@link #getDefaultPythonVersion}.
+   * <p>The version is taken as the value of {@code --python_version} if not null, otherwise {@link
+   * #getDefaultPythonVersion}.
    */
   public PythonVersion getPythonVersion() {
     if (pythonVersion != null) {
       return pythonVersion;
-    } else if (forcePython != null) {
-      return forcePython;
     } else {
       return getDefaultPythonVersion();
     }
@@ -343,10 +333,10 @@
    * different from the existing one.
    *
    * <p>Under the old semantics ({@link #incompatibleAllowPythonVersionTransitions} is false),
-   * version transitions are not allowed once the version has already been set ({@link #forcePython}
-   * or {@link #pythonVersion} is non-null). Due to a historical bug, it is also not allowed to
-   * transition the version to the hard-coded default value. Under these constraints, there is only
-   * one transition possible, from null to the non-default value, and it is never a no-op.
+   * version transitions are not allowed once the version has already been set ({@link
+   * #pythonVersion} is non-null). Due to a historical bug, it is also not allowed to transition the
+   * version to the hard-coded default value. Under these constraints, there is only one transition
+   * possible, from null to the non-default value, and it is never a no-op.
    *
    * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code version} is not {@code PY2} or {@code PY3}
    */
@@ -355,7 +345,7 @@
     if (incompatibleAllowPythonVersionTransitions) {
       return !version.equals(getPythonVersion());
     } else {
-      boolean currentlyUnset = forcePython == null && pythonVersion == null;
+      boolean currentlyUnset = pythonVersion == null;
       boolean transitioningToNonDefault = !version.equals(getDefaultPythonVersion());
       return currentlyUnset && transitioningToNonDefault;
     }
@@ -372,22 +362,11 @@
    * <p>If the old semantics are in effect ({@link #incompatibleAllowPythonVersionTransitions} is
    * false), after this method is called {@link #canTransitionPythonVersion} will return false.
    *
-   * <p>To help avoid breaking old-API {@code select()} expressions that check the value of {@code
-   * "force_python"}, both the old and new flags are updated even though {@code --python_version}
-   * takes precedence over {@code --force_python}.
-   *
    * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code version} is not {@code PY2} or {@code PY3}
    */
   public void setPythonVersion(PythonVersion version) {
     Preconditions.checkArgument(version.isTargetValue());
     this.pythonVersion = version;
-    // If the old version API is enabled, update forcePython for consistency. If the old API is
-    // disabled, don't update it because 1) no one can read it anyway, and 2) updating it during
-    // normalization would cause analysis-time validation of the flag to spuriously fail (it'd think
-    // the user set the flag).
-    if (!incompatibleRemoveOldPythonVersionApi) {
-      this.forcePython = version;
-    }
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -416,7 +395,7 @@
   public FragmentOptions getNormalized() {
     // Under the new version semantics, we want to ensure that options with "null" physical default
     // values are normalized, to avoid #7808. We don't want to normalize with the old version
-    // semantics because that breaks backwards compatibility (--force_python would always be on).
+    // semantics because that breaks backwards compatibility.
     PythonOptions newOptions = (PythonOptions) clone();
     if (incompatibleAllowPythonVersionTransitions) {
       newOptions.setPythonVersion(newOptions.getPythonVersion());
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PyBaseConfiguredTargetTestBase.java b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PyBaseConfiguredTargetTestBase.java
index c7ba4da..d3767f6 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PyBaseConfiguredTargetTestBase.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PyBaseConfiguredTargetTestBase.java
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
 
   @Test
   public void versionIs3IfForcedByFlagUnderOldSemantics() throws Exception {
-    // Under the old version semantics, --force_python takes precedence over the rule's own
+    // Under the old version semantics, --python_version takes precedence over the rule's own
     // default_python_version attribute, so this test case applies equally well to py_library,
     // py_binary, and py_test. Under the new semantics the rule attribute takes precedence, so this
     // would only make sense for py_library; see PyLibraryConfiguredTargetTest for the analogous
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PyExecutableConfiguredTargetTestBase.java b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PyExecutableConfiguredTargetTestBase.java
index a5d3092..5cd8e8b 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PyExecutableConfiguredTargetTestBase.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PyExecutableConfiguredTargetTestBase.java
@@ -359,18 +359,11 @@
     assumesDefaultIsPY2();
     scratch.file("pkg/BUILD", ruleDeclWithPyVersionAttr("foo", "PY3"));
 
-    // Test against both flags.
-    assertPythonVersionIs_UnderNewConfigs(
+    assertPythonVersionIs_UnderNewConfig(
         "//pkg:foo",
         PythonVersion.PY3,
-        new String[] {
-          "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=true",
-          "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false",
-          "--force_python=PY2"
-        },
-        new String[] {
-          "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=true", "--python_version=PY2"
-        });
+        "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=true",
+        "--python_version=PY2");
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -378,18 +371,11 @@
     assumesDefaultIsPY2();
     scratch.file("pkg/BUILD", ruleDeclWithPyVersionAttr("foo", "PY2"));
 
-    // Test against both flags.
-    assertPythonVersionIs_UnderNewConfigs(
+    assertPythonVersionIs_UnderNewConfig(
         "//pkg:foo",
         PythonVersion.PY2,
-        new String[] {
-          "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=true",
-          "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false",
-          "--force_python=PY3"
-        },
-        new String[] {
-          "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=true", "--python_version=PY3"
-        });
+        "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=true",
+        "--python_version=PY3");
   }
 
   @Test
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonConfigurationTest.java b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonConfigurationTest.java
index 3632960..998fc0c 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonConfigurationTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonConfigurationTest.java
@@ -38,29 +38,18 @@
   @Test
   public void invalidTargetPythonValue_NotATargetValue() {
     OptionsParsingException expected =
-        assertThrows(OptionsParsingException.class, () -> create("--force_python=PY2AND3"));
+        assertThrows(OptionsParsingException.class, () -> create("--python_version=PY2AND3"));
     assertThat(expected).hasMessageThat().contains("Not a valid Python major version");
   }
 
   @Test
   public void invalidTargetPythonValue_UnknownValue() {
     OptionsParsingException expected =
-        assertThrows(
-            OptionsParsingException.class,
-            () -> create("--force_python=BEETLEJUICE"));
+        assertThrows(OptionsParsingException.class, () -> create("--python_version=BEETLEJUICE"));
     assertThat(expected).hasMessageThat().contains("Not a valid Python major version");
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void oldVersionFlagGatedByIncompatibleFlag() throws Exception {
-    create("--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false", "--force_python=PY2");
-    checkError(
-        "`--force_python` is disabled by `--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api`",
-        "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=true",
-        "--force_python=PY2");
-  }
-
-  @Test
   public void py3IsDefaultFlagRequiresNewSemanticsFlag() throws Exception {
     checkError(
         "cannot enable `--incompatible_py3_is_default` without also enabling "
@@ -102,28 +91,6 @@
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void getPythonVersion_NewFlagTakesPrecedence() throws Exception {
-    assumesDefaultIsPY2();
-    // --force_python is superseded by --python_version.
-    PythonOptions opts =
-        parsePythonOptions(
-            "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false",
-            "--force_python=PY2",
-            "--python_version=PY3");
-    assertThat(opts.getPythonVersion()).isEqualTo(PythonVersion.PY3);
-  }
-
-  @Test
-  public void getPythonVersion_FallBackOnOldFlag() throws Exception {
-    assumesDefaultIsPY2();
-    // --force_python is used because --python_version is absent.
-    PythonOptions opts =
-        parsePythonOptions(
-            "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false", "--force_python=PY3");
-    assertThat(opts.getPythonVersion()).isEqualTo(PythonVersion.PY3);
-  }
-
-  @Test
   public void canTransitionPythonVersion_OldSemantics_Yes() throws Exception {
     assumesDefaultIsPY2();
     PythonOptions opts =
@@ -134,16 +101,10 @@
   @Test
   public void canTransitionPythonVersion_OldSemantics_NoBecauseAlreadySet() throws Exception {
     assumesDefaultIsPY2();
-    PythonOptions optsWithOldFlag =
-        parsePythonOptions(
-            "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=false",
-            "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false",
-            "--force_python=PY2");
-    PythonOptions optsWithNewFlag =
+    PythonOptions opts =
         parsePythonOptions(
             "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=false", "--python_version=PY2");
-    assertThat(optsWithOldFlag.canTransitionPythonVersion(PythonVersion.PY3)).isFalse();
-    assertThat(optsWithNewFlag.canTransitionPythonVersion(PythonVersion.PY3)).isFalse();
+    assertThat(opts.canTransitionPythonVersion(PythonVersion.PY3)).isFalse();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -168,23 +129,7 @@
     PythonOptions opts =
         parsePythonOptions(
             "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=true",
-            // Set --force_python too, or else we fall into the "make --force_python consistent"
-            // case.
             "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false",
-            "--force_python=PY3",
-            "--python_version=PY3");
-    assertThat(opts.canTransitionPythonVersion(PythonVersion.PY3)).isFalse();
-  }
-
-  @Test
-  public void canTransitionPythonVersion_NewApi_NoEvenWhenForcePythonDisagrees() throws Exception {
-    PythonOptions opts =
-        parsePythonOptions(
-            "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=true",
-            "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false",
-            // Test that even though --force_python's value isn't in sync, we don't transition
-            // because getPythonVersion() would be unaffected by the transition.
-            "--force_python=PY2",
             "--python_version=PY3");
     assertThat(opts.canTransitionPythonVersion(PythonVersion.PY3)).isFalse();
   }
@@ -194,10 +139,8 @@
     PythonOptions opts =
         parsePythonOptions(
             "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false",
-            "--force_python=PY2",
             "--python_version=PY2");
     opts.setPythonVersion(PythonVersion.PY3);
-    assertThat(opts.forcePython).isEqualTo(PythonVersion.PY3);
     assertThat(opts.pythonVersion).isEqualTo(PythonVersion.PY3);
   }
 
@@ -207,7 +150,6 @@
         parsePythonOptions(
             "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=true", "--python_version=PY2");
     opts.setPythonVersion(PythonVersion.PY3);
-    assertThat(opts.forcePython).isNull();
     assertThat(opts.pythonVersion).isEqualTo(PythonVersion.PY3);
   }
 
@@ -235,11 +177,6 @@
   @Test
   public void getHost_AppliesHostForcePython() throws Exception {
     assumesDefaultIsPY2();
-    PythonOptions optsWithForcePythonFlag =
-        parsePythonOptions(
-            "--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false",
-            "--force_python=PY2",
-            "--host_force_python=PY3");
     PythonOptions optsWithPythonVersionFlag =
         parsePythonOptions("--python_version=PY2", "--host_force_python=PY3");
     PythonOptions optsWithPy3IsDefaultFlag =
@@ -250,11 +187,9 @@
             // It's more interesting to set the incompatible flag true and force host to PY2, than
             // it is to set the flag false and force host to PY3.
             "--host_force_python=PY2");
-    PythonOptions hostOptsWithForcePythonFlag = (PythonOptions) optsWithForcePythonFlag.getHost();
     PythonOptions hostOptsWithPythonVersionFlag =
         (PythonOptions) optsWithPythonVersionFlag.getHost();
     PythonOptions hostOptsWithPy3IsDefaultFlag = (PythonOptions) optsWithPy3IsDefaultFlag.getHost();
-    assertThat(hostOptsWithForcePythonFlag.getPythonVersion()).isEqualTo(PythonVersion.PY3);
     assertThat(hostOptsWithPythonVersionFlag.getPythonVersion()).isEqualTo(PythonVersion.PY3);
     assertThat(hostOptsWithPy3IsDefaultFlag.getPythonVersion()).isEqualTo(PythonVersion.PY2);
   }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonVersionSelectTest.java b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonVersionSelectTest.java
index 413b483..6b39058 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonVersionSelectTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonVersionSelectTest.java
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@
   public void canSelectOnForcePythonFlagsUnderOldApi() throws Exception {
     // For backwards compatibility purposes, select()-ing on --force_python and --host_force_python
     // is allowed while the old API is still enabled.
+    // TODO(brandjon): Although --force_python is a no-op, this test is still present because the
+    // behavior belongs to the remove-old-api flag. Delete the test when we no-op that flag too.
     useConfiguration("--incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api=false");
     scratch.file("fp/BUILD", makeFooThatSelectsOnFlag("force_python", "PY2"));
     scratch.file("hfp/BUILD", makeFooThatSelectsOnFlag("host_force_python", "PY2"));
@@ -119,7 +121,7 @@
         "    }),",
         ")");
 
-    // Neither --python_version nor --force_python, use default value.
+    // No --python_version, use default value.
     doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(py2, "--incompatible_py3_is_default=false");
     doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(
         py3,
@@ -128,17 +130,9 @@
         // enabled before we're allowed to set the default to PY3.
         "--incompatible_allow_python_version_transitions=true");
 
-    // No --python_version, trust --force_python.
-    doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(py2, "--force_python=PY2");
-    doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(py3, "--force_python=PY3");
-
-    // --python_version overrides --force_python.
+    // --python_version is given, use it.
     doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(py2, "--python_version=PY2");
-    doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(py2, "--python_version=PY2", "--force_python=PY2");
-    doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(py2, "--python_version=PY2", "--force_python=PY3");
     doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(py3, "--python_version=PY3");
-    doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(py3, "--python_version=PY3", "--force_python=PY2");
-    doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(py3, "--python_version=PY3", "--force_python=PY3");
   }
 
   private void doTestSelectOnPythonVersionTarget(Artifact expected, String... flags)