diff --git a/SQL/Aurora_SQL_Schema.sql b/SQL/Aurora_SQL_Schema.sql
index d3963e89367..65664dd8ad4 100644
--- a/SQL/Aurora_SQL_Schema.sql
+++ b/SQL/Aurora_SQL_Schema.sql
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `ss13_characters` (
   `organs_data` text,
   `organs_robotic` text,
   `gear` text,
+  `deleted_at` datetime DEFAULT NULL,
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
   KEY `ss13_characters_ckey` (`ckey`),
   KEY `ss13_characteres_name` (`name`),
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
index 08d2443d0a8..f6c3ad33b06 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
@@ -1825,7 +1825,7 @@ datum/preferences
 			if(!dbcon.IsConnected())
 				return open_load_dialog_file(user)
 
-			var/DBQuery/query = dbcon.NewQuery("SELECT id, name FROM ss13_characters WHERE ckey = :ckey ORDER BY id ASC")
+			var/DBQuery/query = dbcon.NewQuery("SELECT id, name FROM ss13_characters WHERE ckey = :ckey AND deleted_at IS NULL ORDER BY id ASC")
 			query.Execute(list(":ckey" = user.client.ckey))
 
 			dat += "<b>Select a character slot to load</b><hr>"
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_sql.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_sql.dm
index 23a6460399d..1cbd946b3f1 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_sql.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_sql.dm
@@ -692,10 +692,10 @@
 	if (!query.NextRow())
 		return 0
 
-	var/DBQuery/delete_query = dbcon.NewQuery("DELETE FROM ss13_characters WHERE id = :id")
+	var/DBQuery/delete_query = dbcon.NewQuery("UPDATE ss13_characters SET deleted_at = NOW() WHERE id = :id")
 	delete_query.Execute(list(":id" = current_character))
 
-	var/DBQuery/select_query = dbcon.NewQuery("SELECT id FROM ss13_characters WHERE ckey = :ckey ORDER BY id ASC LIMIT 1")
+	var/DBQuery/select_query = dbcon.NewQuery("SELECT id FROM ss13_characters WHERE ckey = :ckey AND deleted_at IS NULL ORDER BY id ASC LIMIT 1")
 	select_query.Execute(list(":ckey" = C.ckey))
 
 	if (select_query.NextRow())