diff --git a/src/crdt.rs b/src/crdt.rs
index 2df6139195..d685eae7f5 100644
--- a/src/crdt.rs
+++ b/src/crdt.rs
@@ -466,29 +466,12 @@ impl Crdt {
             return;
         }
         let leader_id = self.leader_data().unwrap().id;
-
         let limit = GOSSIP_PURGE_MILLIS;
         let dead_ids: Vec<PublicKey> = self.alive
             .iter()
             .filter_map(|(&k, v)| {
                 if k != self.me && (now - v) > limit {
-                    if leader_id == k {
-                        info!(
-                            "{:x}: PURGE LEADER {:x} {}",
-                            self.debug_id(),
-                            make_debug_id(&k),
-                            now - v
-                        );
-                        Some(k)
-                    } else {
-                        info!(
-                            "{:x}: PURGE {:x} {}",
-                            self.debug_id(),
-                            make_debug_id(&k),
-                            now - v
-                        );
-                        Some(k)
-                    }
+                    Some(k)
                 } else {
                     trace!(
                         "{:x} purge skipped {:x} {} {}",
@@ -510,9 +493,19 @@ impl Crdt {
             self.remote.remove(id);
             self.local.remove(id);
             self.external_liveness.remove(id);
+            info!("{:x}: PURGE {:x}", self.debug_id(), make_debug_id(id));
             for map in self.external_liveness.values_mut() {
                 map.remove(id);
             }
+            if *id == leader_id {
+                info!(
+                    "{:x}: PURGE LEADER {:x}",
+                    self.debug_id(),
+                    make_debug_id(id),
+                );
+                inc_new_counter!("crdt-purge-purged_leader", 1, 1);
+                self.set_leader(PublicKey::default());
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -1245,7 +1238,7 @@ mod tests {
     use logger;
     use packet::BlobRecycler;
     use result::Error;
-    use signature::{KeyPair, KeyPairUtil};
+    use signature::{KeyPair, KeyPairUtil, PublicKey};
     use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
     use std::sync::mpsc::channel;
     use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
@@ -1742,6 +1735,27 @@ mod tests {
         let rv = crdt.gossip_request().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(rv.0, nxt.contact_info.ncp);
     }
+    #[test]
+    fn purge_leader_test() {
+        logger::setup();
+        let me = NodeInfo::new_leader(&"127.0.0.1:1234".parse().unwrap());
+        let mut crdt = Crdt::new(me.clone()).expect("Crdt::new");
+        let nxt = NodeInfo::new_leader(&"127.0.0.2:1234".parse().unwrap());
+        assert_ne!(me.id, nxt.id);
+        crdt.insert(&nxt);
+        crdt.set_leader(nxt.id);
+        let now = crdt.alive[&nxt.id];
+        let nxt2 = NodeInfo::new_leader(&"127.0.0.2:1234".parse().unwrap());
+        crdt.insert(&nxt2);
+        while now == crdt.alive[&nxt2.id] {
+            sleep(Duration::from_millis(GOSSIP_SLEEP_MILLIS));
+            crdt.insert(&nxt2);
+        }
+        let len = crdt.table.len() as u64;
+        crdt.purge(now + GOSSIP_PURGE_MILLIS + 1);
+        assert_eq!(len as usize - 1, crdt.table.len());
+        assert_eq!(crdt.my_data().leader_id, PublicKey::default());
+    }
 
     /// test window requests respond with the right blob, and do not overrun
     #[test]