diff --git a/benchmarks/asv_delegated_conda.py b/benchmarks/asv_delegated_conda.py
index 7d8b6e109c..d53c111ab9 100644
--- a/benchmarks/asv_delegated_conda.py
+++ b/benchmarks/asv_delegated_conda.py
@@ -192,6 +192,11 @@ def copy_asv_files(src_parent: Path, dst_parent: Path) -> None:
             # Record new environment information in properties.
             self._update_info()
 
+    def _run_conda(self, args, env=None):
+        # TODO: remove after airspeed-velocity/asv#1397 is merged and released.
+        args = ["--yes" if arg == "--force" else arg for arg in args]
+        return super()._run_conda(args, env)
+
     def checkout_project(self, repo: Repo, commit_hash: str) -> None:
         """Check out the working tree of the project at given commit hash."""
         super().checkout_project(repo, commit_hash)
diff --git a/docs/src/whatsnew/latest.rst b/docs/src/whatsnew/latest.rst
index 00e6220c28..448b528c38 100644
--- a/docs/src/whatsnew/latest.rst
+++ b/docs/src/whatsnew/latest.rst
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ This document explains the changes made to Iris for this release
 #. `@bouweandela`_ removed a workaround in :meth:`~iris.cube.CubeList.merge` for an
    issue with :func:`dask.array.stack` which has been solved since 2017. (:pull:`5923`)
 
+#. `@trexfeathers`_ introduced a temporary fix for Airspeed Velocity's
+   deprecated use of the ``conda --force`` argument. To be removed once
+   `airspeed-velocity/asv#1397`_ is merged and released. (:pull:`5931`)
+
 
 .. comment
     Whatsnew author names (@github name) in alphabetical order. Note that,
@@ -100,3 +104,5 @@ This document explains the changes made to Iris for this release
 
 .. comment
     Whatsnew resources in alphabetical order:
+
+.. _airspeed-velocity/asv#1397: https://github.com/airspeed-velocity/asv/pull/1397