diff --git a/octodns/provider/rackspace.py b/octodns/provider/rackspace.py
index c593150..f10f0b6 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/rackspace.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/rackspace.py
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ class RackspaceProvider(BaseProvider):
     def _key_for_record(cls, rs_record):
         return cls._as_unicode(rs_record['type'], 'ascii'),\
                cls._as_unicode(rs_record['name'], 'utf-8'),\
-               cls._as_unicode(rs_record['data'], 'utf-8'),\
+               cls._as_unicode(rs_record['data'], 'utf-8')
 
     def _data_for_multiple(self, rrset):
         # TODO: geo not supported
@@ -451,15 +451,15 @@ class RackspaceProvider(BaseProvider):
             elif change.__class__.__name__ == 'Delete':
                 deletes += self._mod_Delete(change)
 
-        if creates:
-            data = {"records": sorted(creates, key=lambda v: v['type'] + v['name'] + v.get('data', ''))}
-            self._post('domains/{}/records'.format(domain_id), data=data)
+        if deletes:
+            params = "&".join(sorted(deletes))
+            self._delete('domains/{}/records?{}'.format(domain_id, params))
 
         if updates:
             data = {"records": sorted(updates, key=lambda v: v['name'])}
             self._put('domains/{}/records'.format(domain_id), data=data)
 
-        if deletes:
-            params = "&".join(sorted(deletes))
-            self._delete('domains/{}/records?{}'.format(domain_id, params))
+        if creates:
+            data = {"records": sorted(creates, key=lambda v: v['type'] + v['name'] + v.get('data', ''))}
+            self._post('domains/{}/records'.format(domain_id), data=data)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_provider_rackspace.py b/tests/test_octodns_provider_rackspace.py
index ce80112..ce4b71f 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_provider_rackspace.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_provider_rackspace.py
@@ -708,6 +708,43 @@ class TestRackspaceProvider(TestCase):
             ExpectedUpdates = None
         return self._test_apply_with_data(TestData)
 
+    def test_apply_update_MX(self):
+        class TestData(object):
+            OtherRecords = [
+                {
+                    "subdomain": '',
+                    "data": {
+                        'type': 'MX',
+                        'ttl': 300,
+                        'value': {u'priority': 50, u'value': 'mx.test.com.'}
+                    }
+                }
+            ]
+            OwnRecords = {
+                "totalEntries": 1,
+                "records": [{
+                    "name": "unit.tests",
+                    "id": "MX-111111",
+                    "type": "MX",
+                    "priority": 20,
+                    "data": "mx.test.com",
+                    "ttl": 300
+                }]
+            }
+            ExpectChanges = True
+            ExpectedAdditions = {
+                "records": [{
+                    "name": "unit.tests",
+                    "type": "MX",
+                    "priority": 50,
+                    "data": "mx.test.com",
+                    "ttl": 300
+                }]
+            }
+            ExpectedDeletions = 'id=MX-111111'
+            ExpectedUpdates = None
+        return self._test_apply_with_data(TestData)
+
     def test_apply_multiple_updates(self):
         class TestData(object):
             OtherRecords = [