diff --git a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore.go b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore.go
index 849aff884..4a71f20fc 100644
--- a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore.go
+++ b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore.go
@@ -89,6 +89,25 @@ func (s *BlockStore) MakeFile(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string,
 			opts.MaxSize = (opts.MaxSize/partDataSize + 1) * partDataSize
 		}
 	}
+	var cacheErr error
+	s.withLock(blockId, name, false, func(entry *CacheEntry) {
+		if entry == nil {
+			return
+		}
+		if !entry.Deleted {
+			cacheErr = fmt.Errorf("file exists")
+			return
+		}
+		// deleted is set.  check intentions
+		if entry.PinCount == 0 && len(entry.WriteIntentions) == 0 {
+			delete(s.Cache, cacheKey{BlockId: blockId, Name: name})
+			return
+		}
+		cacheErr = fmt.Errorf("file is deleted but has active requests")
+	})
+	if cacheErr != nil {
+		return cacheErr
+	}
 	now := time.Now().UnixMilli()
 	file := &BlockFile{
 		BlockId:   blockId,
@@ -111,7 +130,12 @@ func (s *BlockStore) DeleteFile(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string
 		if entry == nil {
 			return
 		}
-		entry.Deleted = true
+		if entry.PinCount > 0 || len(entry.WriteIntentions) > 0 {
+			// mark as deleted if we have a active requests
+			entry.Deleted = true
+		} else {
+			delete(s.Cache, cacheKey{BlockId: blockId, Name: name})
+		}
 	})
 	return nil
 }
@@ -342,6 +366,28 @@ func (s *BlockStore) GetAllBlockIds(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
 	return dbGetAllBlockIds(ctx)
 }
 
+// returns a map of partIdx to amount of data to write to that part
+func (file *BlockFile) computePartMap(startOffset int64, size int64) map[int]int {
+	partMap := make(map[int]int)
+	endOffset := startOffset + size
+	startBlockOffset := startOffset - (startOffset % partDataSize)
+	for testOffset := startBlockOffset; testOffset < endOffset; testOffset += partDataSize {
+		partIdx := file.partIdxAtOffset(testOffset)
+		partStartOffset := testOffset
+		partEndOffset := testOffset + partDataSize
+		partWriteStartOffset := 0
+		partWriteEndOffset := int(partDataSize)
+		if startOffset > partStartOffset && startOffset < partEndOffset {
+			partWriteStartOffset = int(startOffset - partStartOffset)
+		}
+		if endOffset > partStartOffset && endOffset < partEndOffset {
+			partWriteEndOffset = int(endOffset - partStartOffset)
+		}
+		partMap[partIdx] = partWriteEndOffset - partWriteStartOffset
+	}
+	return partMap
+}
+
 func (s *BlockStore) WriteAt(ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string, offset int64, data []byte) error {
 	s.pinCacheEntry(blockId, name)
 	defer s.unpinCacheEntry(blockId, name)
diff --git a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_cache.go b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_cache.go
index 757a92a8d..9a5665942 100644
--- a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_cache.go
+++ b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_cache.go
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ type FileCacheEntry struct {
 	File  BlockFile
 }
 
+type WriteIntention struct {
+	Parts  map[int]bool
+	Append bool
+}
+
 // invariants:
 // - we only modify CacheEntry fields when we are holding the BlockStore lock
 // - FileEntry can be nil, if pinned
@@ -36,18 +41,20 @@ type FileCacheEntry struct {
 // - when pinned, the cache entry is never removed
 // this allows us to flush the cache entry to disk without holding the lock
 type CacheEntry struct {
-	BlockId     string
-	Name        string
-	Version     int
-	PinCount    int
-	Deleted     bool
-	FileEntry   *FileCacheEntry
-	DataEntries []*DataCacheEntry
+	BlockId         string
+	Name            string
+	Version         int
+	PinCount        int
+	Deleted         bool
+	WriteIntentions map[string]*WriteIntention // map from intentionid -> WriteIntention
+	FileEntry       *FileCacheEntry
+	DataEntries     []*DataCacheEntry
 }
 
+//lint:ignore U1000 used for testing
 func (e *CacheEntry) dump() string {
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	fmt.Fprintf(&buf, "CacheEntry{\nBlockId: %q, Name: %q, Version: %d, PinCount: %d, Deleted: %v\n", e.BlockId, e.Name, e.Version, e.PinCount, e.Deleted)
+	fmt.Fprintf(&buf, "CacheEntry{\nBlockId: %q, Name: %q, Version: %d, PinCount: %d, Deleted: %v, IW: %v\n", e.BlockId, e.Name, e.Version, e.PinCount, e.Deleted, e.WriteIntentions)
 	if e.FileEntry != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(&buf, "FileEntry: %v\n", e.FileEntry.File)
 	}
@@ -60,6 +67,7 @@ func (e *CacheEntry) dump() string {
 	return buf.String()
 }
 
+//lint:ignore U1000 used for testing
 func (s *BlockStore) dump() string {
 	s.Lock.Lock()
 	defer s.Lock.Unlock()
@@ -153,19 +161,24 @@ type BlockStore struct {
 	Cache map[cacheKey]*CacheEntry
 }
 
+func makeCacheEntry(blockId string, name string) *CacheEntry {
+	return &CacheEntry{
+		BlockId:         blockId,
+		Name:            name,
+		PinCount:        0,
+		WriteIntentions: make(map[string]*WriteIntention),
+		FileEntry:       nil,
+		DataEntries:     nil,
+	}
+}
+
 func (s *BlockStore) withLock(blockId string, name string, shouldCreate bool, f func(*CacheEntry)) {
 	s.Lock.Lock()
 	defer s.Lock.Unlock()
 	entry := s.Cache[cacheKey{BlockId: blockId, Name: name}]
 	if entry == nil {
 		if shouldCreate {
-			entry = &CacheEntry{
-				BlockId:     blockId,
-				Name:        name,
-				PinCount:    0,
-				FileEntry:   nil,
-				DataEntries: nil,
-			}
+			entry = makeCacheEntry(blockId, name)
 			s.Cache[cacheKey{BlockId: blockId, Name: name}] = entry
 		}
 	}
@@ -187,13 +200,7 @@ func (s *BlockStore) pinCacheEntry(blockId string, name string) {
 	defer s.Lock.Unlock()
 	entry := s.Cache[cacheKey{BlockId: blockId, Name: name}]
 	if entry == nil {
-		entry = &CacheEntry{
-			BlockId:     blockId,
-			Name:        name,
-			PinCount:    0,
-			FileEntry:   nil,
-			DataEntries: nil,
-		}
+		entry = makeCacheEntry(blockId, name)
 		s.Cache[cacheKey{BlockId: blockId, Name: name}] = entry
 	}
 	entry.PinCount++
@@ -210,17 +217,22 @@ func (s *BlockStore) unpinCacheEntry(blockId string, name string) {
 	entry.PinCount--
 }
 
-func (s *BlockStore) tryDeleteCacheEntry(blockId string, name string) {
+// returns true if the entry was deleted (or there is no cache entry)
+func (s *BlockStore) tryDeleteCacheEntry(blockId string, name string) bool {
 	s.Lock.Lock()
 	defer s.Lock.Unlock()
 	entry := s.Cache[cacheKey{BlockId: blockId, Name: name}]
 	if entry == nil {
-		return
+		return true
 	}
 	if entry.PinCount > 0 {
-		return
+		return false
+	}
+	if len(entry.WriteIntentions) > 0 {
+		return false
 	}
 	delete(s.Cache, cacheKey{BlockId: blockId, Name: name})
+	return true
 }
 
 // getFileFromCache returns the file from the cache if it exists
diff --git a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_test.go b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_test.go
index 090bc46b6..a25e18194 100644
--- a/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_test.go
+++ b/pkg/blockstore/blockstore_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package blockstore
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"log"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -76,6 +77,74 @@ func TestCreate(t *testing.T) {
 	if file.Opts.Circular || file.Opts.IJson || file.Opts.MaxSize != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("opts not empty")
 	}
+	err = GBS.DeleteFile(ctx, blockId, "testfile")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error deleting file: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func containsFile(arr []*BlockFile, name string) bool {
+	for _, f := range arr {
+		if f.Name == name {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func TestDelete(t *testing.T) {
+	initDb(t)
+	defer cleanupDb(t)
+
+	ctx, cancelFn := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+	defer cancelFn()
+	blockId := uuid.New().String()
+	err := GBS.MakeFile(ctx, blockId, "testfile", nil, FileOptsType{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error creating file: %v", err)
+	}
+	err = GBS.DeleteFile(ctx, blockId, "testfile")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error deleting file: %v", err)
+	}
+	file, err := GBS.Stat(ctx, blockId, "testfile")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error stating file: %v", err)
+	}
+	if file != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("file should not be found")
+	}
+
+	// create two files in same block, use DeleteBlock to delete
+	err = GBS.MakeFile(ctx, blockId, "testfile1", nil, FileOptsType{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error creating file: %v", err)
+	}
+	err = GBS.MakeFile(ctx, blockId, "testfile2", nil, FileOptsType{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error creating file: %v", err)
+	}
+	files, err := GBS.ListFiles(ctx, blockId)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error listing files: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(files) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("file count mismatch")
+	}
+	if !containsFile(files, "testfile1") || !containsFile(files, "testfile2") {
+		t.Fatalf("file names mismatch")
+	}
+	err = GBS.DeleteBlock(ctx, blockId)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error deleting block: %v", err)
+	}
+	files, err = GBS.ListFiles(ctx, blockId)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error listing files: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(files) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("file count mismatch")
+	}
 }
 
 func checkMapsEqual(t *testing.T, m1 map[string]any, m2 map[string]any, msg string) {
@@ -130,6 +199,12 @@ func TestSetMeta(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("file not found")
 	}
 	checkMapsEqual(t, map[string]any{"a": 6, "b": "hello", "c": "world", "d": 7}, file.Meta, "meta")
+
+	err = GBS.WriteMeta(ctx, blockId, "testfile-notexist", map[string]any{"a": 6}, true)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error setting meta")
+	}
+	err = nil
 }
 
 func checkFileSize(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, blockId string, name string, size int64) {
@@ -236,3 +311,47 @@ func TestMultiPart(t *testing.T) {
 	checkFileDataAt(t, ctx, blockId, fileName, 49, "world")
 	checkFileDataAt(t, ctx, blockId, fileName, 48, "8world4")
 }
+
+func testIntMapsEq(t *testing.T, msg string, m map[int]int, expected map[int]int) {
+	if len(m) != len(expected) {
+		t.Errorf("%s: map length mismatch got:%d expected:%d", msg, len(m), len(expected))
+		return
+	}
+	for k, v := range m {
+		if expected[k] != v {
+			t.Errorf("%s: value mismatch for key %d, got:%d expected:%d", msg, k, v, expected[k])
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestComputePartMap(t *testing.T) {
+	partDataSize = 100
+	defer func() {
+		partDataSize = DefaultPartDataSize
+	}()
+	file := &BlockFile{}
+	m := file.computePartMap(0, 250)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map1", m, map[int]int{0: 100, 1: 100, 2: 50})
+	m = file.computePartMap(110, 40)
+	log.Printf("map2:%#v\n", m)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map2", m, map[int]int{1: 40})
+	m = file.computePartMap(110, 90)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map3", m, map[int]int{1: 90})
+	m = file.computePartMap(110, 91)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map4", m, map[int]int{1: 90, 2: 1})
+	m = file.computePartMap(820, 340)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map5", m, map[int]int{8: 80, 9: 100, 10: 100, 11: 60})
+
+	// now test circular
+	file = &BlockFile{Opts: FileOptsType{Circular: true, MaxSize: 1000}}
+	m = file.computePartMap(10, 250)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map6", m, map[int]int{0: 90, 1: 100, 2: 60})
+	m = file.computePartMap(990, 40)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map7", m, map[int]int{9: 10, 0: 30})
+	m = file.computePartMap(990, 130)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map8", m, map[int]int{9: 10, 0: 100, 1: 20})
+	m = file.computePartMap(5, 1105)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map9", m, map[int]int{0: 100, 1: 10, 2: 100, 3: 100, 4: 100, 5: 100, 6: 100, 7: 100, 8: 100, 9: 100})
+	m = file.computePartMap(2005, 1105)
+	testIntMapsEq(t, "map9", m, map[int]int{0: 100, 1: 10, 2: 100, 3: 100, 4: 100, 5: 100, 6: 100, 7: 100, 8: 100, 9: 100})
+}