diff --git a/crates/delta/src/routes/customisation/emoji_delete.rs b/crates/delta/src/routes/customisation/emoji_delete.rs
index 24def4cc..24f590f3 100644
--- a/crates/delta/src/routes/customisation/emoji_delete.rs
+++ b/crates/delta/src/routes/customisation/emoji_delete.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ pub async fn delete_emoji(db: &Db, user: User, id: Ref) -> Result<EmptyResponse>
                     .throw_permission(db, Permission::ManageCustomisation)
                     .await?;
             }
+            EmojiParent::Detached => return Ok(EmptyResponse),
         };
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/quark/src/impl/dummy/media/emoji.rs b/crates/quark/src/impl/dummy/media/emoji.rs
index 82847fc9..bd2ff700 100644
--- a/crates/quark/src/impl/dummy/media/emoji.rs
+++ b/crates/quark/src/impl/dummy/media/emoji.rs
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ impl AbstractEmoji for DummyDb {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    /// Delete an emoji by its id
-    async fn delete_emoji(&self, emoji: &Emoji) -> Result<()> {
-        info!("Delete {emoji:?}");
+    /// Detach an emoji by its id
+    async fn detach_emoji(&self, emoji: &Emoji) -> Result<()> {
+        info!("Detach {emoji:?}");
         Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/quark/src/impl/generic/media/emoji.rs b/crates/quark/src/impl/generic/media/emoji.rs
index dade6736..145b7047 100644
--- a/crates/quark/src/impl/generic/media/emoji.rs
+++ b/crates/quark/src/impl/generic/media/emoji.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ impl Emoji {
     fn parent(&self) -> &str {
         match &self.parent {
             EmojiParent::Server { id } => id,
+            EmojiParent::Detached => "",
         }
     }
 
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ impl Emoji {
         .p(self.parent().to_string())
         .await;
 
-        db.mark_attachment_as_deleted(&self.id).await?;
-        db.delete_emoji(&self).await
+        db.detach_emoji(&self).await
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/quark/src/impl/mongo/media/emoji.rs b/crates/quark/src/impl/mongo/media/emoji.rs
index 596bef0e..848c006c 100644
--- a/crates/quark/src/impl/mongo/media/emoji.rs
+++ b/crates/quark/src/impl/mongo/media/emoji.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
+use bson::Document;
+
 use crate::models::Emoji;
-use crate::{AbstractEmoji, Result};
+use crate::{AbstractEmoji, Error, Result};
 
 use super::super::MongoDb;
 
@@ -42,7 +44,26 @@ impl AbstractEmoji for MongoDb {
     }
 
     /// Delete an emoji by its id
-    async fn delete_emoji(&self, emoji: &Emoji) -> Result<()> {
-        self.delete_one_by_id(COL, &emoji.id).await.map(|_| ())
+    async fn detach_emoji(&self, emoji: &Emoji) -> Result<()> {
+        self.col::<Document>(COL)
+            .update_one(
+                doc! {
+                    "_id": &emoji.id
+                },
+                doc! {
+                    "$set": {
+                        "parent": {
+                            "type": "Detached"
+                        }
+                    }
+                },
+                None,
+            )
+            .await
+            .map(|_| ())
+            .map_err(|_| Error::DatabaseError {
+                operation: "update_one",
+                with: "emojis",
+            })
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/quark/src/models/media/emoji.rs b/crates/quark/src/models/media/emoji.rs
index b1c35d37..44df4746 100644
--- a/crates/quark/src/models/media/emoji.rs
+++ b/crates/quark/src/models/media/emoji.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 #[serde(tag = "type")]
 pub enum EmojiParent {
     Server { id: String },
+    Detached,
 }
 
 /// Representation of an Emoji on Revolt
diff --git a/crates/quark/src/traits/media/emoji.rs b/crates/quark/src/traits/media/emoji.rs
index b8ed849e..fc873e34 100644
--- a/crates/quark/src/traits/media/emoji.rs
+++ b/crates/quark/src/traits/media/emoji.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,6 @@ pub trait AbstractEmoji: Sync + Send {
     /// Insert emoji into database.
     async fn insert_emoji(&self, emoji: &Emoji) -> Result<()>;
 
-    /// Delete an emoji by its id
-    async fn delete_emoji(&self, emoji: &Emoji) -> Result<()>;
+    /// Detach an emoji by its id
+    async fn detach_emoji(&self, emoji: &Emoji) -> Result<()>;
 }