diff --git a/crates/db/src/catalog.rs b/crates/db/src/catalog.rs
index f8a6efe..392e0ad 100644
--- a/crates/db/src/catalog.rs
+++ b/crates/db/src/catalog.rs
@@ -234,15 +234,15 @@ pub async fn delete_object(
     actor: AuditActor,
     id: ObjectId,
 ) -> Result<bool, sqlx::Error> {
-    if object_by_id(&mut *conn, id).await?.is_none() {
-        return Ok(false);
-    }
-
-    sqlx::query("DELETE FROM object WHERE id = $1")
+    let result = sqlx::query("DELETE FROM object WHERE id = $1")
         .bind(id.to_uuid())
         .execute(&mut *conn)
         .await?;
 
+    if result.rows_affected() == 0 {
+        return Ok(false);
+    }
+
     audit::record(
         &mut *conn,
         &NewAuditEvent {
diff --git a/crates/db/tests/catalog_mutations.rs b/crates/db/tests/catalog_mutations.rs
index 59f8a10..ceb9498 100644
--- a/crates/db/tests/catalog_mutations.rs
+++ b/crates/db/tests/catalog_mutations.rs
@@ -81,17 +81,70 @@ async fn no_op_update_records_no_audit(pool: PgPool) {
 #[sqlx::test]
 async fn update_missing_returns_false(pool: PgPool) {
     let db = Db::from_pool(pool);
+    let missing = domain::ObjectId::new();
+
     let mut tx = db.pool().begin().await.unwrap();
-    let updated = catalog::update_object(
-        &mut tx,
-        AuditActor::System,
-        domain::ObjectId::new(),
-        &base(),
-    )
-    .await
-    .unwrap();
+    let updated = catalog::update_object(&mut tx, AuditActor::System, missing, &base())
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
     tx.commit().await.unwrap();
     assert!(!updated);
+
+    let history = audit::history_for(db.pool(), "object", missing.to_uuid())
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        history.is_empty(),
+        "updating a missing object records no audit"
+    );
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test]
+async fn delete_missing_returns_false(pool: PgPool) {
+    let db = Db::from_pool(pool);
+    let mut tx = db.pool().begin().await.unwrap();
+    let deleted = catalog::delete_object(&mut tx, AuditActor::System, domain::ObjectId::new())
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    tx.commit().await.unwrap();
+    assert!(!deleted);
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test]
+async fn clearing_a_field_is_audited(pool: PgPool) {
+    let db = Db::from_pool(pool);
+    let mut tx = db.pool().begin().await.unwrap();
+    let id = catalog::create_object(&mut tx, AuditActor::System, &base())
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    tx.commit().await.unwrap();
+
+    let mut cleared = base();
+    cleared.current_location = None;
+
+    let mut tx = db.pool().begin().await.unwrap();
+    catalog::update_object(&mut tx, AuditActor::System, id, &cleared)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    tx.commit().await.unwrap();
+
+    let history = audit::history_for(db.pool(), "object", id.to_uuid())
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    let update = history.last().unwrap();
+    let loc = update
+        .changes
+        .iter()
+        .find(|c| c.field == "current_location")
+        .expect("location change recorded");
+    assert!(
+        loc.before.is_some(),
+        "cleared field should have before = Some"
+    );
+    assert!(
+        loc.after.is_none(),
+        "cleared field should have after = None"
+    );
 }
 
 #[sqlx::test]