diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/DeviceFlowTable.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/DeviceFlowTable.java
index ec2532b..4edd2f3 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/DeviceFlowTable.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/DeviceFlowTable.java
@@ -831,6 +831,16 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Purges the flow table.
+     */
+    public void purge() {
+        flowTasks.clear();
+        flowBuckets.values().forEach(bucket -> bucket.purge());
+        lastBackupTimes.clear();
+        inFlightUpdates.clear();
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Closes the device flow table.
      */
     public void close() {
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/ECFlowRuleStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/ECFlowRuleStore.java
index 90c503b..4502016 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/ECFlowRuleStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/ECFlowRuleStore.java
@@ -822,9 +822,18 @@
          * @param deviceId the device for which to purge flow rules
          */
         public void purgeFlowRule(DeviceId deviceId) {
-            DeviceFlowTable flowTable = flowTables.remove(deviceId);
-            if (flowTable != null) {
-                flowTable.close();
+            // If the device is still present in the store, purge the underlying DeviceFlowTable.
+            // Otherwise, remove the DeviceFlowTable and unregister message handlers.
+            if (deviceService.getDevice(deviceId) != null) {
+                DeviceFlowTable flowTable = flowTables.get(deviceId);
+                if (flowTable != null) {
+                    flowTable.purge();
+                }
+            } else {
+                DeviceFlowTable flowTable = flowTables.remove(deviceId);
+                if (flowTable != null) {
+                    flowTable.close();
+                }
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/FlowBucket.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/FlowBucket.java
index 34d470c..ea1887d 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/FlowBucket.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/flow/impl/FlowBucket.java
@@ -264,6 +264,13 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Purges the bucket.
+     */
+    public void purge() {
+        flowBucket.clear();
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Clears the bucket.
      */
     public void clear() {