diff --git a/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py b/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
index 9bbd28a..efe381c 100644
--- a/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
+++ b/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
@@ -80,9 +80,14 @@
 
     def delete(self, *args, **kwds):
         # so we have something to give the observer
-        purge = kwds.get('purge',True)
-        if (observer_disabled or purge):
-            super(PlCoreBase, self).delete(*args, **kwargs)
+        purge = kwds.get('purge',False)
+        try:
+            purge = purge or observer_disabled
+        except NameError:
+            pass
+            
+        if (purge):
+            super(PlCoreBase, self).delete(*args, **kwds)
         else:
             self.deleted = True
             self.enacted=None