diff --git a/src/db/db/dbNetlist.cc b/src/db/db/dbNetlist.cc
index a8f88d529..3c038eb77 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbNetlist.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbNetlist.cc
@@ -658,9 +658,6 @@ void Netlist::purge ()
 
     Circuit *circuit = c.operator-> ();
 
-    //  purge invalid devices
-    circuit->purge_devices ();
-
     //  purge floating, disconnected nets
     circuit->purge_nets ();
 
diff --git a/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbNetlist.cc b/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbNetlist.cc
index f8adc5839..2687fec45 100644
--- a/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbNetlist.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbNetlist.cc
@@ -2190,7 +2190,7 @@ Class<db::Netlist> decl_dbNetlist ("db", "Netlist",
   ) +
   gsi::method ("simplify", &db::Netlist::simplify,
     "@brief Convenience method that combines the simplification.\n"
-    "This method is a convenience method that runs \\make_top_level_pins, \\purge, \\combine_devices, \\purge_devices and \\purge_nets."
+    "This method is a convenience method that runs \\make_top_level_pins, \\purge, \\combine_devices and \\purge_nets."
   ) +
   gsi::method_ext ("read", &read_netlist, gsi::arg ("file"), gsi::arg ("reader"),
     "@brief Writes the netlist to the given file using the given reader object to parse the file\n"
diff --git a/src/db/unit_tests/dbNetlistTests.cc b/src/db/unit_tests/dbNetlistTests.cc
index 47dba443c..5a992d7f0 100644
--- a/src/db/unit_tests/dbNetlistTests.cc
+++ b/src/db/unit_tests/dbNetlistTests.cc
@@ -2034,7 +2034,7 @@ TEST(28_EliminateShortedDevices)
     "end;\n"
   );
 
-  nl.simplify ();
+  nl.purge_devices ();
 
   EXPECT_EQ (nl.to_string (),
     "circuit TOP (p1=n1,p2=n2);\n"
diff --git a/src/lvs/unit_tests/lvsTests.cc b/src/lvs/unit_tests/lvsTests.cc
index 001df63da..d34b0fb15 100644
--- a/src/lvs/unit_tests/lvsTests.cc
+++ b/src/lvs/unit_tests/lvsTests.cc
@@ -121,6 +121,12 @@ TEST(12_private)
   run_test (_this, "test_12.lvs", "test_12b.cir.gz", "test_12.gds.gz", true);
 }
 
+TEST(121_private)
+{
+  // test_is_long_runner ();
+  run_test (_this, "test_121.lvs", "test_121.cir.gz", "test_121.gds.gz", true);
+}
+
 TEST(13_private)
 {
   // test_is_long_runner ();