diff --git a/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py b/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
index 4263f94..8d657a7 100644
--- a/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
+++ b/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(PlCoreBase, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.__initial = self._dict
+        self.silent = False
 
     @property
     def diff(self):
@@ -113,10 +114,10 @@
             self.save(update_fields=['enacted','deleted'], silent=silent)
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        # let the user specify silence as either a kwarg or an instance varible
+        silent = self.silent
         if "silent" in kwargs:
-            silent=kwargs.pop("silent")
-        else:
-            silent=False
+            silent=silent or kwargs.pop("silent")
 
         super(PlCoreBase, self).save(*args, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_cdnprefix.py b/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_cdnprefix.py
index b773df9..b887e84 100644
--- a/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_cdnprefix.py
+++ b/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_cdnprefix.py
@@ -62,4 +62,5 @@
         cp.save()
 
     def delete_record(self, m):
-        self.client.onev.Delete("CDNPrefix", m.cdn_prefix_id)
+        if m.cdn_prefix_id is not None:
+            self.client.onev.Delete("CDNPrefix", m.cdn_prefix_id)
diff --git a/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_contentprovider.py b/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_contentprovider.py
index c7335d6..cebe186 100644
--- a/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_contentprovider.py
+++ b/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_contentprovider.py
@@ -62,5 +62,6 @@
         cp.save()
 
     def delete_record(self, m):
-        self.client.onev.Delete("ContentProvider", m.content_provider_id)
+        if m.content_provider_id is not None:
+            self.client.onev.Delete("ContentProvider", m.content_provider_id)
 
diff --git a/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_originserver.py b/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_originserver.py
index 6fb6234..92ac0f4 100644
--- a/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_originserver.py
+++ b/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_originserver.py
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@
         url = url[7:]
         self.client.cob.UpdateContent(ors.origin_server_id, {"url": url})
 
+        ors.silent = True
         ors.save()
 
-    def delete(self, m):
-        self.client.onev.Delete("OriginServer", m.origin_server_id)
+    def delete_record(self, m):
+        if m.origin_server_id is not None:
+            self.client.onev.Delete("OriginServer", m.origin_server_id)
diff --git a/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_serviceprovider.py b/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_serviceprovider.py
index 19c6db3..78fd196 100644
--- a/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_serviceprovider.py
+++ b/planetstack/hpc_observer/steps/sync_serviceprovider.py
@@ -52,5 +52,5 @@
         sp.save()
 
     def delete_record(self, m):
-        print "XXX delete service provider", m
-        self.client.onev.Delete("ServiceProvider", m.service_provider_id)
+        if m.service_provider_id is not None:
+            self.client.onev.Delete("ServiceProvider", m.service_provider_id)