diff --git a/lib/origen/database/key_value_store.rb b/lib/origen/database/key_value_store.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/origen/database/key_value_store.rb
+++ b/lib/origen/database/key_value_store.rb
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ module Origen
       # Deletes a key from the active store
       def delete_key(key)
         store.delete(key)
+        save_to_file
+        load_from_file
       end
 
       # Return an array of store keys, excluding the 'infrastructure' key(s)
updated the delete_key method to be a permanent delete by saving hte store to file and reloading the store from file