diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/user_admin/user_moderation_actions.html b/bookwyrm/templates/user_admin/user_moderation_actions.html
index 816e787a2..e4460a687 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/user_admin/user_moderation_actions.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/user_admin/user_moderation_actions.html
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 {% load i18n %}
 <div class="block content">
+    {% if not user.is_active and user.deactivation_reason == "self_deletion" %}
+    <div class="notification is-danger">
+        {% trans "Permanently deleted" %}
+    </div>
+    {% else %}
     <h3>{% trans "Actions" %}</h3>
+
     <div class="is-flex">
         <p class="mr-1">
             <a class="button" href="{% url 'direct-messages-user' user.username %}">{% trans "Send direct message" %}</a>
@@ -14,6 +20,7 @@
             {% endif %}
         </form>
     </div>
+
     {% if user.local %}
     <div>
         <form name="permission" method="post" action="{% url 'settings-user' user.id %}">
@@ -39,4 +46,6 @@
         </form>
     </div>
     {% endif %}
+
+    {% endif %}
 </div>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_edit_user.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_edit_user.py
index 4796610f5..e3b9d4635 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_edit_user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_edit_user.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class EditUserViews(TestCase):
         )
         image = Image.open(image_file)
 
-        result = views.user.crop_avatar(image)
+        result = views.edit_user.crop_avatar(image)
         self.assertIsInstance(result, ContentFile)
         image_result = Image.open(result)
         self.assertEqual(image_result.size, (120, 120))
@@ -145,4 +145,6 @@ class EditUserViews(TestCase):
             activity["cc"][0], "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
         )
 
+        self.local_user.refresh_from_db()
         self.assertFalse(self.local_user.is_active)
+        self.assertEqual(self.local_user.deactivation_reason, "self_deletion")
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/edit_user.py b/bookwyrm/views/edit_user.py
index 3b255c686..c74b00c9d 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/edit_user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/edit_user.py
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ class DeleteUser(View):
         # idk why but I couldn't get check_password to work on request.user
         user = models.User.objects.get(id=request.user.id)
         if form.is_valid() and user.check_password(form.cleaned_data["password"]):
-            request.user.delete()
+            user.deactivation_reason = "self_deletion"
+            user.delete()
             logout(request)
             return redirect("/")