diff --git a/src/modules/kvs/kvs.c b/src/modules/kvs/kvs.c
index b9460bbb465d..9d7a254d8b84 100644
--- a/src/modules/kvs/kvs.c
+++ b/src/modules/kvs/kvs.c
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ static int event_unsubscribe (kvs_ctx_t *ctx, const char *ns)
 {
     char *setroot_topic = NULL;
     char *error_topic = NULL;
+    char *removed_topic = NULL;
     int rc = -1;
 
     if (asprintf (&setroot_topic, "kvs.setroot-%s", ns) < 0) {
@@ -262,10 +263,21 @@ static int event_unsubscribe (kvs_ctx_t *ctx, const char *ns)
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
+    if (asprintf (&removed_topic, "kvs.namespace-removed-%s", ns) < 0) {
+        errno = ENOMEM;
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
+    if (flux_event_subscribe (ctx->h, removed_topic) < 0) {
+        flux_log_error (ctx->h, "flux_event_subscribe");
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     rc = 0;
 cleanup:
     free (setroot_topic);
     free (error_topic);
+    free (removed_topic);
     return rc;
 }