diff --git a/v4/store/nats-js/nats.go b/v4/store/nats-js/nats.go
index 4cd05682..5c7b918e 100644
--- a/v4/store/nats-js/nats.go
+++ b/v4/store/nats-js/nats.go
@@ -186,45 +186,63 @@ func (n *natsStore) Read(key string, opts ...store.ReadOption) ([]*store.Record,
 	}
 
 	var keys []string
-	objects, err := bucket.List()
-	if err == nats.ErrNoObjectsFound {
-		return []*store.Record{}, nil
-	} else if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Failed to list objects")
+
+	var keyPrefix, keySuffix string
+
+	switch {
+	case opt.Prefix:
+		keyPrefix = getKey(key, opt.Table)
+	case opt.Suffix:
+		keySuffix = key
+	default:
+		keys = []string{getKey(key, opt.Table)}
 	}
 
-	for _, obj := range objects {
-		name := obj.Name
-		if (!opt.Prefix && !opt.Suffix) && getKey(key, opt.Table) != name {
-			continue
-		}
-		if opt.Prefix && !strings.HasPrefix(name, getKey(key, opt.Table)) {
-			continue
+	if len(keys) == 0 {
+		objects, err := bucket.List()
+		if err == nats.ErrNoObjectsFound {
+			return []*store.Record{}, nil
+		} else if err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Failed to list objects")
 		}
 
-		if opt.Suffix && !strings.HasSuffix(name, key) {
-			continue
+		for _, obj := range objects {
+			name := obj.Name
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(name, opt.Table) {
+				continue
+			}
+			if (!opt.Prefix && !opt.Suffix) && key != name {
+				continue
+			}
+			if opt.Prefix && !strings.HasPrefix(name, keyPrefix) {
+				continue
+			}
+			if opt.Suffix && !strings.HasSuffix(name, keySuffix) {
+				continue
+			}
+			keys = append(keys, name)
 		}
-		keys = append(keys, name)
 	}
 
 	records := []*store.Record{}
 	for _, key := range keys {
 		obj, err := bucket.Get(key)
-		if err != nil {
+		if err == nats.ErrObjectNotFound {
+			return []*store.Record{}, nil
+		} else if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Failed to get object from bucket")
 		}
-
-		b, err := io.ReadAll(obj)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Failed to read returned bytes")
-		}
+		defer obj.Close()
 
 		info, err := obj.Info()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Failed to fetch record info")
 		}
 
+		if info.Deleted {
+			continue
+		}
+
 		metadata := map[string]interface{}{}
 		for key, value := range info.Headers {
 			var val interface{}
@@ -234,14 +252,17 @@ func (n *natsStore) Read(key string, opts ...store.ReadOption) ([]*store.Record,
 			metadata[key] = val
 		}
 
+		b, err := io.ReadAll(obj)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Failed to read returned bytes")
+		}
+
 		records = append(records, &store.Record{
 			Key:      key,
 			Value:    b,
 			Metadata: metadata,
 		})
 
-		// Why is there a close method?
-		obj.Close()
 	}
 
 	if opt.Limit > 0 {