diff --git a/server/api/events.js b/server/api/events.js
index 94218aea8..84e4fc7cc 100644
--- a/server/api/events.js
+++ b/server/api/events.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ router.post('events.list', auth(), pagination(), async ctx => {
       {
         model: User,
         as: 'actor',
+        paranoid: false,
       },
     ],
     offset: ctx.state.pagination.offset,
diff --git a/server/api/events.test.js b/server/api/events.test.js
index 724426852..820413b05 100644
--- a/server/api/events.test.js
+++ b/server/api/events.test.js
@@ -39,6 +39,30 @@ describe('#events.list', async () => {
     expect(body.data[0].id).toEqual(event.id);
   });
 
+  it('should return events with deleted actors', async () => {
+    const { user, admin, document, collection } = await seed();
+
+    // event viewable in activity stream
+    const event = await buildEvent({
+      name: 'documents.publish',
+      collectionId: collection.id,
+      documentId: document.id,
+      teamId: user.teamId,
+      actorId: user.id,
+    });
+
+    await user.destroy();
+
+    const res = await server.post('/api/events.list', {
+      body: { token: admin.getJwtToken() },
+    });
+    const body = await res.json();
+
+    expect(res.status).toEqual(200);
+    expect(body.data.length).toEqual(1);
+    expect(body.data[0].id).toEqual(event.id);
+  });
+
   it('should require authentication', async () => {
     const res = await server.post('/api/events.list');
     const body = await res.json();