diff --git a/data/model.py b/data/model.py
index 0ebc95125..ccb4b8d21 100644
--- a/data/model.py
+++ b/data/model.py
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ def set_team_repo_permission(team_name, namespace_name, repository_name,
 def purge_repository(namespace_name, repository_name):
   fetched = Repository.get(Repository.name == repository_name,
                            Repository.namespace == namespace_name)
-  fetched.delete_instance(recursive=True, delete_nullable=True)
+  fetched.delete_instance(recursive=True)
 
 
 def get_private_repo_count(username):