diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index f7d9ad4..27256a7 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 PATH
   remote: .
   specs:
-    enumbler (0.4.0)
+    enumbler (0.4.1)
       activerecord (~> 6.0.2)
       activesupport (~> 6.0.2)
 
diff --git a/lib/enumbler/enabler.rb b/lib/enumbler/enabler.rb
index dd7fcbe..4dc79bf 100644
--- a/lib/enumbler/enabler.rb
+++ b/lib/enumbler/enabler.rb
@@ -144,18 +144,27 @@ def ids_from_enumbler(*args)
         end
       end
 
-      # Seeds the database with the Enumble data.
+      # Seeds the database with the Enumbler data.
       # @param delete_missing_records [Boolean] remove any records that are no
       #   longer defined (default: false)
       def seed_the_enumbler(delete_missing_records: false)
         max_database_id = all.order('id desc').take&.id || 0
         max_enumble_id = enumbles.map(&:id).max
 
-        max_id = max_enumble_id > max_database_id ? max_enumble_id : max_database_id
+        # If we are not deleting records, we just need to update each listed
+        # enumble and skip anything else in the database.  If we are deleting
+        # records, we need to know the max database id.
+        iterator = if !delete_missing_records
+                     @enumbles.map(&:id)
+                   elsif max_enumble_id > max_database_id
+                     (1..max_enumble_id)
+                   else
+                     (1..max_database_id)
+                   end
 
         discarded_ids = []
 
-        (1..max_id).each do |id|
+        iterator.each do |id|
           enumble = @enumbles.find { |e| e.id == id }
 
           if enumble.nil?
diff --git a/lib/enumbler/version.rb b/lib/enumbler/version.rb
index f8ca6e8..f022ce5 100644
--- a/lib/enumbler/version.rb
+++ b/lib/enumbler/version.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 module Enumbler
-  VERSION = '0.4.0'
+  VERSION = '0.4.1'
 end
diff --git a/spec/enumbler_spec.rb b/spec/enumbler_spec.rb
index bcc7663..8437099 100644
--- a/spec/enumbler_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/enumbler_spec.rb
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ class House < ApplicationRecord
     end
   end
 
-  describe '.seed_the_enumbler', :seed do
+  describe '.seed_the_enumbler!', :seed do
     it 'uses a custom label' do
       expect(Color.infinity.label).to eq 'This is a made-up color'
     end
@@ -192,4 +192,19 @@ class House < ApplicationRecord
       Color.enumbles.pop
     end
   end
+
+  describe '.seed_the_enumbler', :seed do
+    context 'when delete_missing_records is false' do
+      it 'updates but does not delete the records' do
+        Color.enumble :pink, 8
+
+        kept = Color.create!(id: 5, label: 'this is to be kept but not enumbled')
+        Color.seed_the_enumbler(delete_missing_records: false)
+
+        expect(Color.pink).to eq Color.find(8)
+        expect(Color.find_by(id: 5)).to eq kept
+        Color.enumbles.pop
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end