diff --git a/octodns/provider/base.py b/octodns/provider/base.py
index ae87844..eb097a2 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/base.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/base.py
@@ -91,7 +91,10 @@ class BaseProvider(BaseSource):
             self.log.info('apply: disabled')
             return 0
 
-        self.log.info('apply: making changes')
+        zone_name = plan.desired.name
+        num_changes = len(plan.changes)
+        self.log.info('apply: making %d changes to %s', num_changes,
+                      zone_name)
         self._apply(plan)
         return len(plan.changes)
 
diff --git a/octodns/provider/powerdns.py b/octodns/provider/powerdns.py
index de7743c..8ffff46 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/powerdns.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/powerdns.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function, \
     unicode_literals
 
 from requests import HTTPError, Session
+from operator import itemgetter
 import logging
 
 from ..record import Create, Record
@@ -381,6 +382,12 @@ class PowerDnsBaseProvider(BaseProvider):
         for change in changes:
             class_name = change.__class__.__name__
             mods.append(getattr(self, '_mod_{}'.format(class_name))(change))
+
+        # Ensure that any DELETE modifications always occur before any REPLACE
+        # modifications. This ensures that an A record can be replaced by a
+        # CNAME record and vice-versa.
+        mods.sort(key=itemgetter('changetype'))
+
         self.log.debug('_apply:   sending change request')
 
         try: