diff --git a/ops/model.py b/ops/model.py
index 1e8206ab8..12dd2bece 100644
--- a/ops/model.py
+++ b/ops/model.py
@@ -2520,7 +2520,15 @@ def remove_path(self, path: Union[str, PurePath], *, recursive: bool = False):
 
         Args:
             path: Path of the file or directory to delete from the remote system.
-            recursive: If True, recursively delete path and everything under it.
+            recursive: If True, and path is a directory, recursively delete it and
+                       everything under it. If path is a file, delete the file. In
+                       either case, do nothing if the file or directory does not
+                       exist. Behaviourally similar to ``rm -rf <file|dir>``.
+
+        Raises:
+            pebble.PathError: If a relative path is provided, or if `recursive` is False
+                and the file or directory cannot be removed (it does not exist or is not empty).
+
         """
         self._pebble.remove_path(str(path), recursive=recursive)
 
diff --git a/ops/pebble.py b/ops/pebble.py
index 6eef4aab6..365418534 100644
--- a/ops/pebble.py
+++ b/ops/pebble.py
@@ -2164,10 +2164,14 @@ def remove_path(self, path: str, *, recursive: bool = False):
 
         Args:
             path: Path of the file or directory to delete from the remote system.
-            recursive: If True, and path is a directory recursively deletes it and
-                       everything under it. If the path is a file, delete the file and
-                       do nothing if the file is non-existent. Behaviourally similar
-                       to ``rm -rf <file|dir>``.
+            recursive: If True, and path is a directory, recursively delete it and
+                       everything under it. If path is a file, delete the file. In
+                       either case, do nothing if the file or directory does not
+                       exist. Behaviourally similar to ``rm -rf <file|dir>``.
+
+        Raises:
+            pebble.PathError: If a relative path is provided, or if `recursive` is False
+                and the file or directory cannot be removed (it does not exist or is not empty).
 
         """
         info: Dict[str, Any] = {'path': path}