diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 585725a..c92c47f 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ def redis
   @redis ||= Redis.new(host: app.settings.redis["host"], port: app.settings.redis["port"])
 end
 
+def purge_redis
+  redis.keys("*").each do |key|
+    redis.del key
+  end
+end
+
 if app.settings.respond_to? :riak
   ::Riak.disable_list_keys_warnings = true
 
diff --git a/spec/swift/app_spec.rb b/spec/swift/app_spec.rb
index 17d1555..9afbdf9 100644
--- a/spec/swift/app_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/swift/app_spec.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ describe "App" do
   end
 
   describe "PUT requests" do
+
+    before do
+      purge_redis
+    end
+
     context "authorized" do
       before do
         redis.sadd "authorizations:phil:amarillo", [":rw"]
@@ -59,6 +64,11 @@ describe "App" do
   end
 
   describe "DELETE requests" do
+
+    before do
+      purge_redis
+    end
+
     context "authorized" do
       before do
         redis.sadd "authorizations:phil:amarillo", [":rw"]