diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
index 8911150fbb..7d27db51e2 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
@@ -470,10 +470,16 @@ def delete_item(request):
 
     item = modulestore().get_item(item_location)
 
+    _direct_delete_categories = ['course', 'chapter', 'sequential']
+
+    # @TODO: this probably leaves draft items dangling. 
+
     if delete_children:
-        _xmodule_recurse(item, lambda i: modulestore().delete_item(i.location))
+        _xmodule_recurse(item, lambda i: modulestore('direct' if 
+            i.location.category in _direct_delete_categories else 'direct').delete_item(i.location))
     else:
-        modulestore().delete_item(item.location)
+        modulestore('direct' if 
+            item.location.category in _direct_delete_categories else 'direct').delete_item(item.location)
 
     return HttpResponse()
 
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/draft.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/draft.py
index 33ee9eaab2..5fbf05ed9b 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/draft.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/draft.py
@@ -157,11 +157,8 @@ class DraftModuleStore(ModuleStoreBase):
 
         location: Something that can be passed to Location
         """
+        return super(DraftModuleStore, self).delete_item(as_draft(location))
 
-        # cdodge: we should always delete both the draft and the original
-        super(DraftModuleStore, self).delete_item(as_draft(location))
-        if (location.revision == None):  # did caller request to delete the non-draft, if so be sure to do that
-            super(DraftModuleStore, self).delete_item(location)
 
     def get_parent_locations(self, location):
         '''Find all locations that are the parents of this location.  Needed