diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0056_auto_20201021_0150.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0056_auto_20201021_0150.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1408efb98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0056_auto_20201021_0150.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.0.7 on 2020-10-21 01:50
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('bookwyrm', '0055_merge_20201017_0011'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='status',
+            name='deleted_date',
+            field=models.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/status.py b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
index 0a70eb77c..61e9c5005 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class Status(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, BookWyrmModel):
     # the created date can't be this, because of receiving federated posts
     published_date = models.DateTimeField(default=timezone.now)
     deleted = models.BooleanField(default=False)
-    deleted_date = models.DateTimeField()
+    deleted_date = models.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True)
     favorites = models.ManyToManyField(
         'User',
         symmetrical=False,