diff --git a/data.c b/data.c
index be58c09..0d7765c 100644
--- a/data.c
+++ b/data.c
@@ -1055,3 +1055,24 @@ void purge(snac *snac)
         }
     }
 }
+
+
+void purge_all(void)
+/* purge all users */
+{
+    snac snac;
+    xs *list = user_list();
+    char *p, *uid;
+
+    srv_debug(1, xs_fmt("purge start"));
+
+    p = list;
+    while (xs_list_iter(&p, &uid)) {
+        if (user_open(&snac, uid)) {
+            purge(&snac);
+            user_free(&snac);
+        }
+    }
+
+    srv_debug(1, xs_fmt("purge end"));
+}
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index db691eb..0c13819 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -97,18 +97,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     }
 
     if (strcmp(cmd, "purge") == 0) {
-        /* iterate all users */
-        xs *list = user_list();
-        char *p, *uid;
-
-        p = list;
-        while (xs_list_iter(&p, &uid)) {
-            if (user_open(&snac, uid)) {
-                purge(&snac);
-                user_free(&snac);
-            }
-        }
-
+        purge_all();
         return 0;
     }
 
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index eacc795..b3e50b7 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ d_char *queue(snac *snac);
 d_char *dequeue(snac *snac, char *fn);
 
 void purge(snac *snac);
+void purge_all(void);
 
 d_char *http_signed_request(snac *snac, char *method, char *url,
                         d_char *headers,