diff --git a/nova/db/api.py b/nova/db/api.py
index 63a586dea..3d0efd138 100644
--- a/nova/db/api.py
+++ b/nova/db/api.py
@@ -87,6 +87,32 @@ class NoMoreTargets(exception.NovaException):
 ###################
 
 
+def constraint(**conditions):
+    """Return a constraint object suitable for use with some updates."""
+    return IMPL.constraint(**conditions)
+
+
+def equal_any(*values):
+    """Return an equality condition object suitable for use in a constraint.
+
+    Equal_any conditions require that a model object's attribute equal any
+    one of the given values.
+    """
+    return IMPL.equal_any(*values)
+
+
+def not_equal(*values):
+    """Return an inequality condition object suitable for use in a constraint.
+
+    Not_equal conditions require that a model object's attribute differs from
+    all of the given values.
+    """
+    return IMPL.not_equal(*values)
+
+
+###################
+
+
 def service_destroy(context, instance_id):
     """Destroy the service or raise if it does not exist."""
     return IMPL.service_destroy(context, instance_id)
@@ -527,9 +553,9 @@ def instance_data_get_for_project(context, project_id, session=None):
                                               session=session)
 
 
-def instance_destroy(context, instance_id):
+def instance_destroy(context, instance_id, constraint=None):
     """Destroy the instance or raise if it does not exist."""
-    return IMPL.instance_destroy(context, instance_id)
+    return IMPL.instance_destroy(context, instance_id, constraint)
 
 
 def instance_get_by_uuid(context, uuid):
diff --git a/nova/db/sqlalchemy/api.py b/nova/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
index 30c556b4d..0881af62f 100644
--- a/nova/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
+++ b/nova/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import joinedload_all
 from sqlalchemy.sql.expression import asc
 from sqlalchemy.sql.expression import desc
 from sqlalchemy.sql.expression import literal_column
+from sqlalchemy.sql.expression import or_
 from sqlalchemy.sql import func
 
 FLAGS = flags.FLAGS
@@ -263,6 +264,52 @@ def exact_filter(query, model, filters, legal_keys):
 ###################
 
 
+def constraint(**conditions):
+    return Constraint(conditions)
+
+
+def equal_any(*values):
+    return EqualityCondition(values)
+
+
+def not_equal(*values):
+    return InequalityCondition(values)
+
+
+class Constraint(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, conditions):
+        self.conditions = conditions
+
+    def apply(self, model, query):
+        clauses = []
+        for key, condition in self.conditions.iteritems():
+            for clause in condition.clauses(getattr(model, key)):
+                query = query.filter(clause)
+        return query
+
+
+class EqualityCondition(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, values):
+        self.values = values
+
+    def clauses(self, field):
+        return or_([field == value for value in self.values])
+
+
+class InequalityCondition(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, values):
+        self.values = values
+
+    def clauses(self, field):
+        return [field != value for value in self.values]
+
+
+###################
+
+
 @require_admin_context
 def service_destroy(context, service_id):
     session = get_session()
@@ -1311,7 +1358,7 @@ def instance_data_get_for_project(context, project_id, session=None):
 
 
 @require_context
-def instance_destroy(context, instance_id):
+def instance_destroy(context, instance_id, constraint=None):
     session = get_session()
     with session.begin():
         if utils.is_uuid_like(instance_id):
@@ -1321,11 +1368,14 @@ def instance_destroy(context, instance_id):
         else:
             instance_ref = instance_get(context, instance_id,
                     session=session)
-        session.query(models.Instance).\
-                filter_by(id=instance_id).\
-                update({'deleted': True,
-                        'deleted_at': utils.utcnow(),
-                        'updated_at': literal_column('updated_at')})
+        query = session.query(models.Instance).filter_by(id=instance_id)
+        if constraint is not None:
+            query = constraint.apply(models.Instance, query)
+        count = query.update({'deleted': True,
+                              'deleted_at': utils.utcnow(),
+                              'updated_at': literal_column('updated_at')})
+        if count == 0:
+            raise exception.ConstraintNotMet()
         session.query(models.SecurityGroupInstanceAssociation).\
                 filter_by(instance_id=instance_id).\
                 update({'deleted': True,