diff --git a/glance_store/_drivers/rbd.py b/glance_store/_drivers/rbd.py
index f45a9098..4b5c8a6f 100644
--- a/glance_store/_drivers/rbd.py
+++ b/glance_store/_drivers/rbd.py
@@ -471,14 +471,6 @@ class Store(driver.Store):
                     if snapshot_name is not None:
                         with rbd.Image(ioctx, image_name) as image:
                             try:
-                                # NOTE(abhishekk): Check whether snapshot
-                                # has any external references
-                                if self._snapshot_has_external_reference(
-                                        image, snapshot_name):
-                                    raise rbd.ImageBusy(
-                                        "Image snapshot has external "
-                                        "references.")
-
                                 self._unprotect_snapshot(image, snapshot_name)
                                 image.remove_snap(snapshot_name)
                             except rbd.ImageNotFound as exc:
@@ -502,6 +494,13 @@ class Store(driver.Store):
                                    "It has snapshot(s) left.") %
                                {'img_name': image_name})
                     LOG.warning(log_msg)
+                    with rbd.Image(ioctx, image_name) as image:
+                        try:
+                            rbd.RBD().trash_move(ioctx, image_name)
+                            LOG.debug('Moved %s to trash', image_name)
+                        except rbd.ImageBusy:
+                            raise exceptions.InUseByStore()
+                        return
                     raise exceptions.HasSnapshot()
                 except rbd.ImageBusy:
                     log_msg = (_LW("Remove image %(img_name)s failed. "
diff --git a/glance_store/tests/unit/test_multistore_rbd.py b/glance_store/tests/unit/test_multistore_rbd.py
index 5b37d0ae..edf7425e 100644
--- a/glance_store/tests/unit/test_multistore_rbd.py
+++ b/glance_store/tests/unit/test_multistore_rbd.py
@@ -172,6 +172,9 @@ class MockRBD(object):
         def clone(self, *args, **kwargs):
             raise NotImplementedError()
 
+        def trash_move(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            pass
+
     RBD_FEATURE_LAYERING = 1
 
 
@@ -427,10 +430,9 @@ class TestMultiStore(base.MultiStoreBaseTest,
         with mock.patch.object(MockRBD.Image, 'list_children') as mocked:
             mocked.return_value = True
 
-            self.assertRaises(exceptions.InUseByStore,
-                              self.store._delete_image,
-                              'fake_pool', self.location.image,
-                              snapshot_name='snap')
+            self.store._delete_image('fake_pool',
+                                     self.location.image,
+                                     snapshot_name='snap')
 
     def test_delete_image_w_snap_exc_image_has_snap(self):
         def _fake_remove(*args, **kwargs):
@@ -439,8 +441,8 @@ class TestMultiStore(base.MultiStoreBaseTest,
 
         with mock.patch.object(MockRBD.RBD, 'remove') as remove:
             remove.side_effect = _fake_remove
-            self.assertRaises(exceptions.HasSnapshot, self.store._delete_image,
-                              'fake_pool', self.location.image)
+            self.store._delete_image('fake_pool',
+                                     self.location.image)
 
             self.called_commands_expected = ['remove']
 
diff --git a/glance_store/tests/unit/test_rbd_store.py b/glance_store/tests/unit/test_rbd_store.py
index 08ade51d..d21b781a 100644
--- a/glance_store/tests/unit/test_rbd_store.py
+++ b/glance_store/tests/unit/test_rbd_store.py
@@ -173,6 +173,9 @@ class MockRBD(object):
         def clone(self, *args, **kwargs):
             raise NotImplementedError()
 
+        def trash_move(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            pass
+
     RBD_FEATURE_LAYERING = 1
 
 
@@ -633,23 +636,45 @@ class TestStore(base.StoreBaseTest,
         with mock.patch.object(MockRBD.Image, 'list_children') as mocked:
             mocked.return_value = True
 
-            self.assertRaises(exceptions.InUseByStore,
-                              self.store._delete_image,
-                              'fake_pool', self.location.image,
-                              snapshot_name='snap')
+            self.store._delete_image('fake_pool',
+                                     self.location.image,
+                                     snapshot_name='snap')
 
     def test_delete_image_w_snap_exc_image_has_snap(self):
         def _fake_remove(*args, **kwargs):
             self.called_commands_actual.append('remove')
             raise MockRBD.ImageHasSnapshots()
 
+        mock.patch.object(MockRBD.RBD, 'trash_move').start()
+
         with mock.patch.object(MockRBD.RBD, 'remove') as remove:
             remove.side_effect = _fake_remove
-            self.assertRaises(exceptions.HasSnapshot, self.store._delete_image,
-                              'fake_pool', self.location.image)
+            self.store._delete_image('fake_pool',
+                                     self.location.image)
 
             self.called_commands_expected = ['remove']
 
+        MockRBD.RBD.trash_move.assert_called_once_with(mock.ANY, 'fake_image')
+
+    def test_delete_image_w_snap_exc_image_has_snap_2(self):
+        def _fake_remove(*args, **kwargs):
+            self.called_commands_actual.append('remove')
+            raise MockRBD.ImageHasSnapshots()
+
+        mock.patch.object(MockRBD.RBD, 'trash_move',
+                          side_effect=MockRBD.ImageBusy).start()
+
+        with mock.patch.object(MockRBD.RBD, 'remove') as remove:
+            remove.side_effect = _fake_remove
+            self.assertRaises(exceptions.InUseByStore,
+                              self.store._delete_image,
+                              'fake_pool',
+                              self.location.image)
+
+            self.called_commands_expected = ['remove']
+
+        MockRBD.RBD.trash_move.assert_called_once_with(mock.ANY, 'fake_image')
+
     def test_get_partial_image(self):
         loc = g_location.Location('test_rbd_store', rbd_store.StoreLocation,
                                   self.conf, store_specs=self.store_specs)