diff --git a/lib/pleroma/workers/background_worker.ex b/lib/pleroma/workers/background_worker.ex
index dbf40ee1b..7ebdff84a 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/workers/background_worker.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/workers/background_worker.ex
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Workers.BackgroundWorker do
 
   def perform(%Job{args: %{"op" => "delete_user", "user_id" => user_id}}) do
     user = User.get_cached_by_id(user_id)
+    User.set_activation_async(user, false)
     User.perform(:delete, user)
   end