diff --git a/library/blivet.py b/library/blivet.py
index 3c9b464f..0c2354ad 100644
--- a/library/blivet.py
+++ b/library/blivet.py
@@ -221,6 +221,8 @@ def _reformat(self):
 
         if self._device.format.status and not packages_only:
             self._device.format.teardown()
+        if not self._device.isleaf:
+            self._blivet.devicetree.recursive_remove(self._device, remove_device=False)
         self._blivet.format_device(self._device, fmt)
 
     def manage(self):