It is an easy consequence of the second fundamental theorem of Nevanlinna that each derivative, of a transcendental meromorphic functionghas at most one finite Picard value. Generalizing a result of Mues we prove that forg=fn+2only zero can be this Picard value. The functionsf=R expP, RrationalPpolynomial, show that Picard value zero can actually occur. We show that for k⩽n, n⩽3, (fk)(n)has Picard value zero only iffis of this form.