diff --git a/bioblend/_tests/TestGalaxyUsers.py b/bioblend/_tests/TestGalaxyUsers.py
index a833fcec0..c21df032f 100644
--- a/bioblend/_tests/TestGalaxyUsers.py
+++ b/bioblend/_tests/TestGalaxyUsers.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-import bioblend.galaxy
+import pytest
+
+from bioblend import ConnectionError
+from bioblend.galaxy import GalaxyInstance
 from . import (
     GalaxyTestBase,
     test_util,
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@ def test_create_local_user(self):
         assert new_user["username"] == new_username
         assert new_user["email"] == new_user_email
         # test a BioBlend GalaxyInstance can be created using username+password
-        user_gi = bioblend.galaxy.GalaxyInstance(url=self.gi.base_url, email=new_user_email, password=password)
+        user_gi = GalaxyInstance(url=self.gi.base_url, email=new_user_email, password=password)
         assert user_gi.users.get_current_user()["email"] == new_user_email
         # test deletion and purging
         if self.gi.config.get_config()["allow_user_deletion"]:
@@ -104,6 +107,24 @@ def test_update_user(self):
             assert purged_user["deleted"]
             assert purged_user["purged"]
 
+    @test_util.skip_unless_galaxy("release_19.09")  # for user purging
+    def test_direct_purge(self):
+        """
+        Test purging without prior deletion
+        """
+        # WARNING: only admins can create users!
+        if self.gi.config.get_config()["use_remote_user"]:
+            self.skipTest("This Galaxy instance is not configured to use local users")
+        if not self.gi.config.get_config()["allow_user_deletion"]:
+            self.skipTest("This Galaxy instance is not configured to allow user deletion")
+        new_username = test_util.random_string()
+        new_user = self.gi.users.create_local_user(
+            new_username, f"{new_username}@example.org", test_util.random_string(20)
+        )
+        # Purging a user fails if it's not deleted beforehand
+        with pytest.raises(ConnectionError):
+            self.gi.users.delete_user(new_user["id"], purge=True)
+
     def test_get_user_apikey(self):
         # Test getting the API key of the current user, which surely has one
         user_id = self.gi.users.get_current_user()["id"]