diff --git a/interface/src/VoxelSystem.cpp b/interface/src/VoxelSystem.cpp
index b5dab29029..e473961c8e 100644
--- a/interface/src/VoxelSystem.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/VoxelSystem.cpp
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ int VoxelSystem::newTreeToArrays(VoxelNode* node) {
         bool  inChildBoundary = (distanceToNode <= childBoundary);
         shouldRender = (node->isLeaf() && inChildBoundary) || (inBoundary && !inChildBoundary);
     }
-    node->setShouldRender(shouldRender);
+    node->setShouldRender(shouldRender && !node->isStagedForDeletion());
     // let children figure out their renderness
     for (int i = 0; i < NUMBER_OF_CHILDREN; i++) {
         if (node->getChildAtIndex(i)) {
@@ -244,6 +244,15 @@ int VoxelSystem::newTreeToArrays(VoxelNode* node) {
     } else {
         voxelsUpdated += updateNodeInArraysAsPartialVBO(node);
     }
+    
+    // If the node has been asked to be deleted, but we've gotten to here, after updateNodeInArraysXXX()
+    // then it means our VBOs are "clean" and our vertices have been removed or not added. So we can now
+    // safely remove the node from the tree and actually delete it.
+    // otherwise honor our calculated shouldRender
+    if (node->isStagedForDeletion()) {
+        _tree->deleteVoxelCodeFromTree(node->getOctalCode());
+    }
+    
     node->clearDirtyBit(); // always clear the dirty bit, even if it doesn't need to be rendered
     return voxelsUpdated;
 }
@@ -901,9 +910,19 @@ void VoxelSystem::collectStatsForTreesAndVBOs() {
 
 
 void VoxelSystem::deleteVoxelAt(float x, float y, float z, float s) { 
-    //printLog("VoxelSystem::deleteVoxelAt(%f,%f,%f,%f)\n",x,y,z,s);
-    _tree->deleteVoxelAt(x, y, z, s); 
-    setupNewVoxelsForDrawing(); 
+    printLog("VoxelSystem::deleteVoxelAt(%f,%f,%f,%f)\n",x,y,z,s);
+
+    VoxelNode* node = _tree->getVoxelAt(x, y, z, s);
+    if (node) {
+        // tell the node we want it deleted
+        node->stageForDeletion();
+        
+        // tree is now dirty
+        _tree->setDirtyBit();
+        
+        // redraw!
+        setupNewVoxelsForDrawing();  // do we even need to do this? Or will the next network receive kick in?
+    }
 };
 
 VoxelNode* VoxelSystem::getVoxelAt(float x, float y, float z, float s) const { 
diff --git a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
index 5af7f09ea2..19e6a12aa5 100644
--- a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
+++ b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ void VoxelNode::init(unsigned char * octalCode) {
     _glBufferIndex = GLBUFFER_INDEX_UNKNOWN;
     _isDirty = true;
     _shouldRender = false;
+    _isStagedForDeletion = false;
     
     calculateAABox();
 }
diff --git a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.h b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.h
index 51af8f6379..c07cb528e6 100644
--- a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.h
+++ b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ private:
     glBufferIndex _glBufferIndex;
     bool _isDirty;
     bool _shouldRender;
+    bool _isStagedForDeletion;
     AABox _box;
     unsigned char* _octalCode;
     VoxelNode* _children[8];
@@ -66,9 +67,15 @@ public:
     glBufferIndex getBufferIndex() const { return _glBufferIndex; };
     bool isKnownBufferIndex() const { return (_glBufferIndex != GLBUFFER_INDEX_UNKNOWN); };
     void setBufferIndex(glBufferIndex index) { _glBufferIndex = index; };
+
+    // Used by VoxelSystem for rendering in/out of view and LOD
     void setShouldRender(bool shouldRender);
     bool getShouldRender() const { return _shouldRender; }
 
+    // Used by VoxelSystem to mark a node as to be deleted on next render pass
+    void stageForDeletion() { _isStagedForDeletion = true; };
+    bool isStagedForDeletion() const { return _isStagedForDeletion; }
+
 #ifndef NO_FALSE_COLOR // !NO_FALSE_COLOR means, does have false color
     void setFalseColor(colorPart red, colorPart green, colorPart blue);
     void setFalseColored(bool isFalseColored);