diff --git a/mcagents/erase_node.rb b/mcagents/erase_node.rb
index a8750fa6..9eab560f 100644
--- a/mcagents/erase_node.rb
+++ b/mcagents/erase_node.rb
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ module MCollective
           get_devices(type='all').each do |dev|
             debug_msg("erasing bootstrap code area in MBR of #{dev[:name]}")
             # clear out the boot code in MBR
-            system("dd if=/dev/zero of=#{dev[:name]} bs=446 count=1 oflag=direct")
+            system("dd if=/dev/zero of=#{dev[:name]} bs=446 count=1")
+            system("sync")
           end
 
           reply[:erased] = true