diff --git a/lib/gnat/jetstream/api/kv.ex b/lib/gnat/jetstream/api/kv.ex
index 00df70a..deed25e 100644
--- a/lib/gnat/jetstream/api/kv.ex
+++ b/lib/gnat/jetstream/api/kv.ex
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ defmodule Gnat.Jetstream.API.KV do
   @stream_prefix "KV_"
   @subject_prefix "$KV."
   @two_minutes_in_nanoseconds 1_200_000_000
+  @operation_header "kv-operation"
+  @operation_del "DEL"
+  @operation_purge "PURGE"
 
   @type bucket_options ::
           {:history, non_neg_integer()}
@@ -248,10 +251,34 @@ defmodule Gnat.Jetstream.API.KV do
     Gnat.Jetstream.API.KV.Watcher.stop(pid)
   end
 
+  @doc ~S"""
+  Returns true if operation is `{"kv-operation", "DEL"}` or `{"kv-operation", "PURGE"}`
+
+  ## Parameters
+  - `headers` - a list of headers to test
+
+  ## Examples
+
+      iex> is_delete_operation?([{"kv-operation", "DEL"}])
+      true
+      iex> is_delete_operation?([{"kv-operation", "PURGE"}])
+      true
+      iex> is_delete_operation?([{"kv-operation", "ADD"}])
+      false
+  """
+  @spec is_delete_operation?(headers :: Gnat.headers()) :: boolean()
+  def is_delete_operation?(headers) do
+    headers
+    |> Enum.filter(fn {k, v} ->
+      k == @operation_header and (v == @operation_del or v == @operation_purge)
+    end)
+    |> length() > 0
+  end
+
   defp receive_keys(keys \\ %{}, bucket_name) do
     receive do
       {:msg, %{topic: key, body: body, headers: headers}} ->
-        if {"kv-operation", "DEL"} in headers do
+        if is_delete_operation?(headers) do
           receive_keys(keys, bucket_name)
         else
           Map.put(keys, subject_to_key(key, bucket_name), body) |> receive_keys(bucket_name)
diff --git a/lib/gnat/jetstream/api/kv/watcher.ex b/lib/gnat/jetstream/api/kv/watcher.ex
index 64fdc3d..19c265b 100644
--- a/lib/gnat/jetstream/api/kv/watcher.ex
+++ b/lib/gnat/jetstream/api/kv/watcher.ex
@@ -10,9 +10,6 @@ defmodule Gnat.Jetstream.API.KV.Watcher do
 
   alias Gnat.Jetstream.API.{Consumer, KV, Util}
 
-  @operation_header "kv-operation"
-  @operation_del "DEL"
-
   @type keywatch_handler ::
           (action :: :key_deleted | :key_added, key :: String.t(), value :: any() -> nil)
 
@@ -54,7 +51,7 @@ defmodule Gnat.Jetstream.API.KV.Watcher do
   def handle_info({:msg, %{topic: key, body: body, headers: headers}}, state) do
     key = KV.subject_to_key(key, state.bucket_name)
 
-    if {@operation_header, @operation_del} in headers do
+    if KV.is_delete_operation?(headers) do
       state.handler.(:key_deleted, key, body)
     end
 
diff --git a/test/jetstream/api/kv_test.exs b/test/jetstream/api/kv_test.exs
index 156e38f..95f482a 100644
--- a/test/jetstream/api/kv_test.exs
+++ b/test/jetstream/api/kv_test.exs
@@ -104,10 +104,18 @@ defmodule Gnat.Jetstream.API.KVTest do
       KV.put_value(:gnat, bucket, "baz", "quz")
       assert_receive({:key_added, "baz", "quz"})
 
+      KV.put_value(:gnat, bucket, "quz", "qux")
+      assert_receive({:key_added, "quz", "qux"})
+
       KV.delete_key(:gnat, bucket, "baz")
       # key deletions don't carry the data removed
       assert_receive({:key_deleted, "baz", ""})
 
+      # ensure we get delete event on purge
+      KV.purge_key(:gnat, bucket, "quz")
+      assert_receive({:key_deleted, "quz", ""})
+
+
       KV.unwatch(watcher_pid)
 
       :ok = KV.delete_bucket(:gnat, bucket)