diff --git a/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/material/operator.py b/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/material/operator.py
index 4cf66d9177..c6b92145b5 100644
--- a/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/material/operator.py
+++ b/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/material/operator.py
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ class RemoveConstituent(bpy.types.Operator, tool.Ifc.Operator):
             if len(material_set.MaterialConstituents) == 1:
                 self.report({"ERROR"}, "At least one constituent must exist")
                 return {"CANCELLED"}
-        ifcopenshell.api.run("material.remove_constituent", tool.Ifc.get(), constituent=constituent)
+        ifcopenshell.api.material.remove_constituent(tool.Ifc.get(), constituent=constituent)
 
 
 class AddProfile(bpy.types.Operator, tool.Ifc.Operator):
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ class RemoveProfile(bpy.types.Operator, tool.Ifc.Operator):
             if len(material_set.MaterialProfiles) == 1:
                 self.report({"ERROR"}, "At least one profile must exist")
                 return {"CANCELLED"}
-        ifcopenshell.api.run("material.remove_profile", tool.Ifc.get(), profile=profile)
+        ifcopenshell.api.material.remove_profile(tool.Ifc.get(), profile=profile)
 
 
 class AddLayer(bpy.types.Operator, tool.Ifc.Operator):
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ class RemoveLayer(bpy.types.Operator, tool.Ifc.Operator):
             if len(material_set.MaterialLayers) == 1:
                 self.report({"ERROR"}, "At least one layer must exist")
                 return {"CANCELLED"}
-        ifcopenshell.api.run("material.remove_layer", tool.Ifc.get(), layer=layer)
+        ifcopenshell.api.material.remove_layer(tool.Ifc.get(), layer=layer)
         for material_set in material_sets:
             slab.DumbSlabPlaner().regenerate_from_layer_set(material_set)
             wall.DumbWallPlaner().regenerate_from_layer_set(material_set)
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_constituent.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_constituent.py
index 7f6bd4d6a9..7521c48a15 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_constituent.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_constituent.py
@@ -18,16 +18,16 @@
 import ifcopenshell
 
 
-def remove_constituent(file: ifcopenshell.file, constituent: ifcopenshell.entity_instance) -> None:
+def remove_constituent(
+    file: ifcopenshell.file, constituent: ifcopenshell.entity_instance, should_remove_material: bool = False
+) -> None:
     """Removes a constituent from a constituent set
 
     Note that it is invalid to have zero items in a set, so you should leave
     at least one constituent to ensure a valid IFC dataset.
 
     :param constituent: The IfcMaterialConstituent entity you want to remove
-    :type constituent: ifcopenshell.entity_instance
-    :return: None
-    :rtype: None
+    :param should_remove_material: If true, materials with no users will be removed
 
     Example:
 
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ def remove_constituent(file: ifcopenshell.file, constituent: ifcopenshell.entity
         # invalid.
         ifcopenshell.api.material.remove_constituent(model, constituent=glazing)
     """
-    settings = {"constituent": constituent}
-
-    file.remove(settings["constituent"])
+    material = layer.Material
+    file.remove(constituent)
+    if material and should_remove_material:
+        ifcopenshell.util.element.remove_deep2(file, subelement)
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_layer.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_layer.py
index 8f3a0f9450..7055beaf26 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_layer.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_layer.py
@@ -15,19 +15,19 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
 # along with IfcOpenShell.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-import ifcopenshell
+import ifcopenshell.util.element
 
 
-def remove_layer(file: ifcopenshell.file, layer: ifcopenshell.entity_instance) -> None:
+def remove_layer(
+    file: ifcopenshell.file, layer: ifcopenshell.entity_instance, should_remove_material: bool = False
+) -> None:
     """Removes a layer from a layer set
 
     Note that it is invalid to have zero items in a set, so you should leave
     at least one layer to ensure a valid IFC dataset.
 
     :param layer: The IfcMaterialLayer entity you want to remove
-    :type layer: ifcopenshell.entity_instance
-    :return: None
-    :rtype: None
+    :param should_remove_material: If true, materials with no users will be removed
 
     Example:
 
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ def remove_layer(file: ifcopenshell.file, layer: ifcopenshell.entity_instance) -
         # one one side such as to line a services riser.
         ifcopenshell.api.material.remove_layer(model, layer=layer3)
     """
-    settings = {"layer": layer}
-
-    file.remove(settings["layer"])
+    material = layer.Material
+    file.remove(layer)
+    if material and should_remove_material:
+        ifcopenshell.util.element.remove_deep2(file, subelement)
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_profile.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_profile.py
index 61c696d465..2883f21e41 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_profile.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/material/remove_profile.py
@@ -17,20 +17,23 @@
 # along with IfcOpenShell.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 
-import ifcopenshell
 import ifcopenshell.util.element
 
 
-def remove_profile(file: ifcopenshell.file, profile: ifcopenshell.entity_instance) -> None:
+def remove_profile(
+    file: ifcopenshell.file,
+    profile: ifcopenshell.entity_instance,
+    should_remove_profile_def: bool = False,
+    should_remove_material: bool = False,
+) -> None:
     """Removes a profile item from a profile set
 
     Note that it is invalid to have zero items in a set, so you should leave
     at least one profile to ensure a valid IFC dataset.
 
     :param profile: The IfcMaterialProfile entity you want to remove
-    :type profile: ifcopenshell.entity_instance
-    :return: None
-    :rtype: None
+    :param should_remove_profile_def: If true, profile defs with no users will be removed
+    :param should_remove_material: If true, materials with no users will be removed
 
     Example:
 
@@ -64,12 +67,14 @@ def remove_profile(file: ifcopenshell.file, profile: ifcopenshell.entity_instanc
         ifcopenshell.api.material.remove_profile(model, profile=weld_profile)
     """
 
-    settings = {"profile": profile}
-
     subelements = set()
-    for attribute in settings["profile"]:
+    for attribute in profile:
         if isinstance(attribute, ifcopenshell.entity_instance):
             subelements.add(attribute)
-    file.remove(settings["profile"])
+    file.remove(profile)
     for subelement in subelements:
+        if subelement.is_a("IfcMaterial") and not should_remove_material:
+            continue
+        elif subelement.is_a("IfcProfileDef") and not should_remove_profile_def:
+            continue
         ifcopenshell.util.element.remove_deep2(file, subelement)