diff --git a/app/controllers/api/base_controller/generic.rb b/app/controllers/api/base_controller/generic.rb
index 2234a541d3a..16122eb5c6f 100644
--- a/app/controllers/api/base_controller/generic.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/api/base_controller/generic.rb
@@ -98,8 +98,6 @@ def delete_resource(type, id = nil, _data = nil)
         klass = collection_class(type)
         id ||= @req.c_id
         raise BadRequestError, "Must specify an id for deleting a #{type} resource" unless id
-        api_log_info("Deleting #{type} id #{id}")
-        resource_search(id, type, klass)
         delete_resource_action(klass, type, id)
       end
 
@@ -184,11 +182,13 @@ def add_subcollection_data_to_resource(resource, type, subcollection_data)
       end
 
       def delete_resource_action(klass, type, id)
+        api_log_info("Deleting #{type} id #{id}")
+        resource = resource_search(id, type, klass)
         result = begin
-                   klass.destroy(id)
+                   resource.destroy!
                    action_result(true, "#{type} id: #{id} deleting")
                  rescue => err
-                   action_result(false, err.to_s)
+                   action_result(false, "#{err} - #{resource.errors.full_messages.join(', ')}")
                  end
         add_href_to_result(result, type, id)
         log_result(result)