diff --git a/trove/instance/models.py b/trove/instance/models.py
index 5e6323d405..46dd1da6a8 100644
--- a/trove/instance/models.py
+++ b/trove/instance/models.py
@@ -302,12 +302,17 @@ class SimpleInstance(object):
         if self.db_info.task_status.is_error:
             return InstanceStatus.ERROR
 
-        # If we've reset the status, show it as an error
-        if tr_instance.ServiceStatuses.UNKNOWN == self.datastore_status.status:
+        action = self.db_info.task_status.action
+
+        # Check if we are resetting status or force deleting
+        if (tr_instance.ServiceStatuses.UNKNOWN == self.datastore_status.status
+                and action == InstanceTasks.DELETING.action):
+            return InstanceStatus.SHUTDOWN
+        elif (tr_instance.ServiceStatuses.UNKNOWN ==
+                self.datastore_status.status):
             return InstanceStatus.ERROR
 
         # Check for taskmanager status.
-        action = self.db_info.task_status.action
         if 'BUILDING' == action:
             if 'ERROR' == self.db_info.server_status:
                 return InstanceStatus.ERROR
@@ -753,18 +758,13 @@ class BaseInstance(SimpleInstance):
         return files
 
     def reset_status(self):
-        if self.is_building or self.is_error:
-            LOG.info(_LI("Resetting the status to ERROR on instance %s."),
-                     self.id)
-            self.reset_task_status()
+        LOG.info(_LI("Resetting the status to ERROR on instance %s."),
+                 self.id)
+        self.reset_task_status()
 
-            reset_instance = InstanceServiceStatus.find_by(instance_id=self.id)
-            reset_instance.set_status(tr_instance.ServiceStatuses.UNKNOWN)
-            reset_instance.save()
-        else:
-            raise exception.UnprocessableEntity(
-                "Instance %s status can only be reset in BUILD or ERROR "
-                "state." % self.id)
+        reset_instance = InstanceServiceStatus.find_by(instance_id=self.id)
+        reset_instance.set_status(tr_instance.ServiceStatuses.UNKNOWN)
+        reset_instance.save()
 
 
 class FreshInstance(BaseInstance):
diff --git a/trove/tests/unittests/instance/test_instance_status.py b/trove/tests/unittests/instance/test_instance_status.py
index fb3ff41763..0efb34eec1 100644
--- a/trove/tests/unittests/instance/test_instance_status.py
+++ b/trove/tests/unittests/instance/test_instance_status.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from trove.datastore import models
 from trove.instance.models import InstanceServiceStatus
 from trove.instance.models import InstanceStatus
 from trove.instance.models import SimpleInstance
+from trove.instance.tasks import InstanceTasks
 from trove.tests.unittests import trove_testtools
 from trove.tests.unittests.util import util
 import uuid
@@ -135,3 +136,14 @@ class InstanceStatusTest(BaseInstanceStatusTestCase):
         self.status.set_status(ServiceStatuses.RUNNING)
         instance = SimpleInstance('dummy context', self.db_info, self.status)
         self.assertEqual(InstanceStatus.ACTIVE, instance.status)
+
+    def test_service_status_reset_status(self):
+        self.status.set_status(ServiceStatuses.UNKNOWN)
+        instance = SimpleInstance('dummy context', self.db_info, self.status)
+        self.assertEqual(InstanceStatus.ERROR, instance.status)
+
+    def test_service_status_force_deleteing(self):
+        self.status.set_status(ServiceStatuses.UNKNOWN)
+        self.db_info.task_status = InstanceTasks.DELETING
+        instance = SimpleInstance('dummy context', self.db_info, self.status)
+        self.assertEqual(InstanceStatus.SHUTDOWN, instance.status)