diff --git a/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py b/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
index fc8e740..51240ad 100644
--- a/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
+++ b/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@
 
     def delete(self, *args, **kwds):
         # so we have something to give the observer
-        if (observer_disabled):
+        purge = kwds.get('purge',True)
+        if (observer_disabled or purge):
             super(PlCoreBase, self).delete(*args, **kwargs)
         else:
             self.deleted = True