An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording control unit configured to record an image on a recording medium by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements while relatively moving the recording head and the recording medium; a defective recording element detection unit configured to detect a defective recording element out of the plurality of recording elements; a correction processing unit (23, 57) configured to perform a correction processing including suspension of an output of the defective recording element and increase of an output of a recording element at least adjacent to the defective recording element according to a detection result of the defective recording element detection unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an image defect is caused in the image by the suspension of output of the defective recording element, before the correction processing by the correction processing unit, according to the detection result of the defective recording element detection unit; characterized in that the image recording apparatus further comprises: a selection unit configured to select a forced recording element that is forced to output ink out of defective recording elements detected by the defective recording element detection unit when the determination unit determines that the image defect is caused; and a control unit configured to cause the correction processing unit to suspend an output of the defective recording element other than the forced recording element when the selection unit selects the forced recording element. a recording control unit configured to record an image on a recording medium by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements while relatively moving the recording head and the recording medium; a defective recording element detection unit configured to detect a defective recording element out of the plurality of recording elements; a correction processing unit (23, 57) configured to perform a correction processing including suspension of an output of the defective recording element and increase of an output of a recording element at least adjacent to the defective recording element according to a detection result of the defective recording element detection unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an image defect is caused in the image by the suspension of output of the defective recording element, before the correction processing by the correction processing unit, according to the detection result of the defective recording element detection unit; characterized in that the image recording apparatus further comprises: a selection unit configured to select a forced recording element that is forced to output ink out of defective recording elements detected by the defective recording element detection unit when the determination unit determines that the image defect is caused; and a control unit configured to cause the correction processing unit to suspend an output of the defective recording element other than the forced recording element when the selection unit selects the forced recording element. a selection unit configured to select a forced recording element that is forced to output ink out of defective recording elements detected by the defective recording element detection unit when the determination unit determines that the image defect is caused; and a control unit configured to cause the correction processing unit to suspend an output of the defective recording element other than the forced recording element when the selection unit selects the forced recording element.