diff --git a/interface/src/VoxelSystem.cpp b/interface/src/VoxelSystem.cpp
index 2ea6a33773..87613e2715 100644
--- a/interface/src/VoxelSystem.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/VoxelSystem.cpp
@@ -1005,6 +1005,7 @@ void VoxelSystem::deleteVoxelAt(float x, float y, float z, float s) {
     _tree->deleteVoxelAt(x, y, z, s, true);
     
     // redraw!
+    _renderFullVBO = true; 
     setupNewVoxelsForDrawing();  // do we even need to do this? Or will the next network receive kick in?
     
     pthread_mutex_unlock(&_treeLock);
diff --git a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
index d151603069..3b8a0d68e5 100644
--- a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
+++ b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
@@ -195,8 +195,8 @@ bool VoxelNode::collapseIdenticalLeaves() {
 	bool allChildrenMatch = true; // assume the best (ottimista)
 	int red,green,blue;
 	for (int i = 0; i < NUMBER_OF_CHILDREN; i++) {
-		// if no child, or child doesn't have a color
-		if (!_children[i] || !_children[i]->isColored()) {
+		// if no child, child isn't a leaf, or child doesn't have a color
+		if (!_children[i] || !_children[i]->isLeaf() || !_children[i]->isColored()) {
 			allChildrenMatch=false;
 			//printLog("SADNESS child missing or not colored! i=%d\n",i);
 			break;