diff --git a/crud/crud.cpp b/crud/crud.cpp
index 586a0675..463f0642 100644
--- a/crud/crud.cpp
+++ b/crud/crud.cpp
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ crud::handle_ttl(const bzn::caller_id_t& /*caller_id*/, const database_msg& requ
         }
     }
 
-    this->send_response(request, (has) ? bzn::storage_result::ok : bzn::storage_result::not_found, std::move(response), session);
+    this->send_response(request, (has) ? bzn::storage_result::ok : bzn::storage_result::ttl_not_found, std::move(response), session);
 }
 
 
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ crud::handle_persist(const bzn::caller_id_t& caller_id, const database_msg& requ
             }
             else
             {
-                result = bzn::storage_result::not_found;
+                result = bzn::storage_result::ttl_not_found;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/crud/test/crud_test.cpp b/crud/test/crud_test.cpp
index ebe3aad8..e5191d82 100644
--- a/crud/test/crud_test.cpp
+++ b/crud/test/crud_test.cpp
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ TEST(crud, test_that_point_of_contact_create_sends_proper_response)
         {
             database_response resp;
             ASSERT_TRUE(parse_env_to_db_resp(resp, msg->SerializeAsString()));
-            ASSERT_EQ(resp.error().message(), bzn::storage_result_msg.at(bzn::storage_result::not_found));
+            ASSERT_EQ(resp.error().message(), bzn::storage_result_msg.at(bzn::storage_result::ttl_not_found));
         }));
 
     crud->handle_request("caller_id", msg, nullptr);
@@ -2252,7 +2252,12 @@ TEST(crud, test_that_key_with_expiration_can_be_made_persistent)
 
     // should be gone
     msg.mutable_ttl()->set_key("key");
-    expect_signed_response(session, "uuid", 123, database_response::kError, bzn::storage_result_msg.at(bzn::storage_result::not_found));
+    expect_signed_response(session, "uuid", 123, database_response::kError, bzn::storage_result_msg.at(bzn::storage_result::ttl_not_found));
+    crud->handle_request("caller_id", msg, session);
+
+    // make key persist that no longer exists
+    msg.mutable_persist()->set_key("key");
+    expect_signed_response(session, "uuid", 123, database_response::kError, bzn::storage_result_msg.at(bzn::storage_result::ttl_not_found));
     crud->handle_request("caller_id", msg, session);
 }
 
diff --git a/storage/storage_base.hpp b/storage/storage_base.hpp
index 98527766..880d8003 100644
--- a/storage/storage_base.hpp
+++ b/storage/storage_base.hpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ namespace bzn
         ok=0,
         not_found,
         exists,
+        ttl_not_found,
         not_saved,
         value_too_large,
         key_too_large,
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ namespace bzn
         {storage_result::ok,              "OK"},
         {storage_result::not_found,       "RECORD_NOT_FOUND"},
         {storage_result::exists,          "RECORD_EXISTS"},
+        {storage_result::ttl_not_found,   "TTL_RECORD_NOT_FOUND"},
         {storage_result::not_saved,       "NOT_SAVED"},
         {storage_result::value_too_large, "VALUE_SIZE_TOO_LARGE"},
         {storage_result::key_too_large,   "KEY_SIZE_TOO_LARGE"},