diff --git a/files/classes/alts.py b/files/classes/alts.py
index 2b09c9aee..2cff4b7c2 100644
--- a/files/classes/alts.py
+++ b/files/classes/alts.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ class Alt(Base):
 	user2 = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"), primary_key=True)
 	is_manual = Column(Boolean, default=False)
 	created_utc = Column(Integer)
-	deleted = Column(Boolean, default=False)
 
 	def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 		if "created_utc" not in kwargs: kwargs["created_utc"] = int(time.time())
diff --git a/files/routes/admin.py b/files/routes/admin.py
index d1c3a7280..7eb8cdc0f 100644
--- a/files/routes/admin.py
+++ b/files/routes/admin.py
@@ -610,15 +610,13 @@ def admin_add_alt(v:User, username):
 	user2 = get_user(request.values.get('other_username'))
 	if user1.id == user2.id: abort(400, "Can't add the same account as alts of each other")
 
-	deleted = request.values.get('deleted', False, bool) or False
 	ids = [user1.id, user2.id]
 	a = g.db.query(Alt).filter(Alt.user1.in_(ids), Alt.user2.in_(ids)).one_or_none()
-	if a: abort(409, f"@{user1.username} and @{user2.username} are already known {'linked' if not a.deleted else 'delinked'} alts")
+	if a: abort(409, f"@{user1.username} and @{user2.username} are already known alts!")
 	a = Alt(
 		user1=user1.id,
 		user2=user2.id,
 		is_manual=True,
-		deleted=deleted
 	)
 	g.db.add(a)
 	g.db.flush()
@@ -629,17 +627,14 @@ def admin_add_alt(v:User, username):
 	check_for_alts(user1)
 	check_for_alts(user2)
 
-	word = 'Delinked' if deleted else 'Linked'
-	ma_word = 'delink' if deleted else 'link'
-	note = f'from @{user2.username}' if deleted else f'with @{user2.username}'
 	ma = ModAction(
-		kind=f"{ma_word}_accounts",
+		kind=f"link_accounts",
 		user_id=v.id,
 		target_user_id=user1.id,
-		_note=note
+		_note=f'with @{user2.username}'
 	)
 	g.db.add(ma)
-	return {"message": f"{word} @{user1.username} and @{user2.username} successfully!"}
+	return {"message": f"Linked @{user1.username} and @{user2.username} successfully!"}
 
 @app.post('/@<username>/alts/<int:other>/deleted')
 @limiter.limit(DEFAULT_RATELIMIT_SLOWER)
diff --git a/files/routes/routehelpers.py b/files/routes/routehelpers.py
index 0664b5654..701dd1267 100644
--- a/files/routes/routehelpers.py
+++ b/files/routes/routehelpers.py
@@ -72,13 +72,6 @@ def check_for_alts(current:User, include_current_session=False):
 		add_alt(past_id, current_id)
 		other_alts = g.db.query(Alt).filter(Alt.user1.in_(li), Alt.user2.in_(li)).all()
 		for a in other_alts:
-			if a.deleted:
-				if include_current_session:
-					try: session["history"].remove(a.user1)
-					except: pass
-					try: session["history"].remove(a.user2)
-					except: pass
-				continue # don't propagate deleted alt links
 			if a.user1 != past_id: add_alt(a.user1, past_id)
 			if a.user1 != current_id: add_alt(a.user1, current_id)
 			if a.user2 != past_id: add_alt(a.user2, past_id)
diff --git a/migrations/20230218-remove-deleted-column.sql b/migrations/20230218-remove-deleted-column.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ce2c5d1b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/20230218-remove-deleted-column.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+delete from alts where deleted=true;
+alter table alts drop column deleted;