diff --git a/fs.go b/fs.go
index a1c75dcda..688b2f65e 100644
--- a/fs.go
+++ b/fs.go
@@ -31,10 +31,18 @@ type FsObject interface {
 	Size() int64
 	Open() (io.ReadCloser, error)
 	Storable() bool
-	//	Exists() bool
 	Remove() error
 }
 
+// Optional interfaces
+type Purger interface {
+	// Purge all files in the root and the root directory
+	//
+	// Implement this if you have a way of deleting all the files
+	// quicker than just running Remove() on the result of List()
+	Purge() error
+}
+
 type FsObjectsChan chan FsObject
 
 type FsObjects []FsObject
diff --git a/fs_drive.go b/fs_drive.go
index 835e6f125..8dc080f76 100644
--- a/fs_drive.go
+++ b/fs_drive.go
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 // Drive interface
 package main
 
-// FIXME could make a purge which deleted everything in the container
-// easily - rmdir without the checks!
-
 // FIXME list containers equivalent should list directories?
 
 // FIXME drive times only accurate to 1 ms (3 decimal places)
@@ -505,9 +502,6 @@ func (f *FsDrive) Mkdir() error {
 //
 // Returns an error if it isn't empty
 func (f *FsDrive) Rmdir() error {
-	if f.root == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Can't delete root directory")
-	}
 	err := f.findRoot(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -519,6 +513,27 @@ func (f *FsDrive) Rmdir() error {
 	if len(children.Items) > 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Directory not empty: %#v", children.Items)
 	}
+	// Delete the directory if it isn't the root
+	if f.root != "" {
+		err = f.svc.Files.Delete(f.rootId).Do()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Purge deletes all the files and the container
+//
+// Returns an error if it isn't empty
+func (f *FsDrive) Purge() error {
+	if f.root == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Can't purge root directory")
+	}
+	err := f.findRoot(false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	err = f.svc.Files.Delete(f.rootId).Do()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -635,4 +650,5 @@ func (fs *FsObjectDrive) Remove() error {
 
 // Check the interfaces are satisfied
 var _ Fs = &FsDrive{}
+var _ Purger = &FsDrive{}
 var _ FsObject = &FsObjectDrive{}
diff --git a/notes.txt b/notes.txt
index 64d2d7596..44eb1854e 100644
--- a/notes.txt
+++ b/notes.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 Todo
+  * Make a test suite which can run on all the given types of fs
   * Copy should use the sync code as it is more efficient at directory listing
   * Drive needs a modify window of 1ms
   * Factor fses into own packages
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ Ideas
       * Google drive: https://developers.google.com/drive/
       * rsync over ssh
       * dropbox: https://github.com/nickoneill/go-dropbox (no MD5s)
+  * grive seems to have its secrets in the source code which would make things easier!
 
      
 
@@ -58,3 +60,14 @@ s3
     * https://forums.aws.amazon.com/message.jspa?messageID=214062
     * Otherwise can set metadata
   * Returns etag and last modified in bucket list
+
+
+Bugs
+
+local & drive need to delete directories
+
+2013/01/18 16:31:32 Waiting for deletions to finish
+2013/01/18 16:31:32 z3: FIXME Skipping directory
+2013/01/18 16:31:32 z3/x: Deleted
+2013/01/18 16:31:32 Deleting path
+2013/01/18 16:31:32 Rmdir failed: remove z3: directory not empty
diff --git a/swiftsync.go b/swiftsync.go
index 7190ebc30..31c3f439b 100644
--- a/swiftsync.go
+++ b/swiftsync.go
@@ -354,9 +354,17 @@ func rmdir(fdst, fsrc Fs) {
 //
 // FIXME doesn't delete local directories
 func purge(fdst, fsrc Fs) {
-	DeleteFiles(fdst.List())
-	log.Printf("Deleting path")
-	rmdir(fdst, fsrc)
+	if f, ok := fdst.(Purger); ok {
+		err := f.Purge()
+		if err != nil {
+			stats.Error()
+			log.Fatalf("Purge failed: %s", err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		DeleteFiles(fdst.List())
+		log.Printf("Deleting path")
+		rmdir(fdst, fsrc)
+	}
 }
 
 type Command struct {