diff --git a/g10/delkey.c b/g10/delkey.c
--- a/g10/delkey.c
+++ b/g10/delkey.c
@@ -119,7 +119,10 @@
    * may also be used for other protocols and thus deleting it from the gpg
    * would also delete the key for other tools. */
   if (!err)
-    err = agent_delete_key (NULL, hexgrip, prompt, opt.answer_yes);
+    {
+      if (!opt.dry_run)
+        err = agent_delete_key (NULL, hexgrip, prompt, opt.answer_yes);
+    }
 
   xfree (prompt);
   xfree (hexgrip);
@@ -309,7 +312,9 @@
 	{
     if (confirm_deletion (ctrl, node->pkt, secret, exactmatch))
       {
-        err = keydb_delete_keyblock (hd);
+        if (!opt.dry_run)
+          err = keydb_delete_keyblock (hd);
+
         if (err)
           {
             log_error (_("deleting keyblock failed: %s\n"),
@@ -323,8 +328,11 @@
 	 revalidation_mark().  This makes sense - only deleting keys
 	 that have ownertrust set should trigger this. */
 
-      if (!secret && pk && clear_ownertrusts (ctrl, pk))
+      if (!secret && pk)
         {
+          if (!opt.dry_run)
+            clear_ownertrusts (ctrl, pk);
+
           if (opt.verbose)
             log_info (_("ownertrust information cleared\n"));
         }