diff --git a/test/web/activity_pub/side_effects_test.exs b/test/web/activity_pub/side_effects_test.exs
index ce34eed4c..a9598d7b3 100644
--- a/test/web/activity_pub/side_effects_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/activity_pub/side_effects_test.exs
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ test "it handles user deletions", %{delete_user: delete, user: user} do
       {:ok, _delete, _} = SideEffects.handle(delete)
       ObanHelpers.perform_all()
 
-      refute User.get_cached_by_ap_id(user.ap_id)
+      assert User.get_cached_by_ap_id(user.ap_id).deactivated
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/test/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier/delete_handling_test.exs b/test/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier/delete_handling_test.exs
index c141e25bc..f235a8e63 100644
--- a/test/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier/delete_handling_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier/delete_handling_test.exs
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ test "it works for incoming user deletes" do
     {:ok, _} = Transmogrifier.handle_incoming(data)
     ObanHelpers.perform_all()
 
-    refute User.get_cached_by_ap_id(ap_id)
+    assert User.get_cached_by_ap_id(ap_id).deactivated
   end
 
   test "it fails for incoming user deletes with spoofed origin" do
diff --git a/test/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller_test.exs b/test/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller_test.exs
index bf054a12e..0daf29ffb 100644
--- a/test/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller_test.exs
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ test "single user", %{admin: admin, conn: conn} do
 
         ObanHelpers.perform_all()
 
-        refute User.get_by_nickname(user.nickname)
+        assert User.get_by_nickname(user.nickname).deactivated
 
         log_entry = Repo.one(ModerationLog)