diff --git a/capsulflask/spoke_api.py b/capsulflask/spoke_api.py
index 3ca86bc..f7513aa 100644
--- a/capsulflask/spoke_api.py
+++ b/capsulflask/spoke_api.py
@@ -182,7 +182,10 @@ def handle_destroy(operation_id, request_body):
     return abort(400, f"bad request; email is required for destroy")
 
   try:
-    current_app.config['SPOKE_MODEL'].destroy(id=request_body['id'], email=request_body['email'])
+    vm = current_app.config['SPOKE_MODEL'].get(request_body['id'], False)
+    current_app.logger.warning(f"destroy {request_body['id']} was called for {request_body['email']}, however the vm does not exist. returning success. ")
+    if vm is not None:
+      current_app.config['SPOKE_MODEL'].destroy(id=request_body['id'], email=request_body['email'])
   except:
     error_message = my_exec_info_message(sys.exc_info())
     params =          f"email='{request_body['email'] if 'email' in request_body else 'KeyError'}', "