diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/group/impl/DistributedGroupStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/group/impl/DistributedGroupStore.java
index 520c65d..0cf77b3 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/group/impl/DistributedGroupStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/group/impl/DistributedGroupStore.java
@@ -769,6 +769,9 @@
                 existing.state());
         synchronized (existing) {
             existing.setState(GroupState.PENDING_DELETE);
+            getGroupStoreKeyMap().
+                put(new GroupStoreKeyMapKey(existing.deviceId(), existing.appCookie()),
+                    existing);
         }
         log.debug("deleteGroupDescriptionInternal: in device {} issuing GROUP_REMOVE_REQUESTED",
                   deviceId);