diff --git a/files/classes/user.py b/files/classes/user.py
index 0d40fb32b..c8355cbbc 100644
--- a/files/classes/user.py
+++ b/files/classes/user.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class User(Base):
 	friends_html = deferred(Column(String))
 	enemies = deferred(Column(String))
 	enemies_html = deferred(Column(String))
-	is_banned = Column(Integer, default=0)
+	is_banned = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 	unban_utc = Column(Integer, default=0)
 	ban_reason = deferred(Column(String))
 	is_muted = Column(Boolean, default=False, nullable=False)
diff --git a/files/helpers/awards.py b/files/helpers/awards.py
index ab51e446a..3ac85065e 100644
--- a/files/helpers/awards.py
+++ b/files/helpers/awards.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def award_timers(v, bot=False):
 		v.patron_utc = 0
 		notify_if_not_bot(f"Your {patron} status has expired!")
 	if v.unban_utc and v.unban_utc < now:
-		v.is_banned = 0
+		v.is_banned = None
 		v.unban_utc = 0
 		v.ban_reason = None
 		notify_if_not_bot("You have been unbanned!")
diff --git a/files/helpers/stats.py b/files/helpers/stats.py
index 166ddba92..23cee5ca8 100644
--- a/files/helpers/stats.py
+++ b/files/helpers/stats.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def stats(site=None):
 			"marseys": "{:,}".format(g.db.query(Marsey).filter(Marsey.submitter_id==None).count()),
 			"users": "{:,}".format(g.db.query(User).count()),
 			"private users": "{:,}".format(g.db.query(User).filter_by(is_private=True).count()),
-			"banned users": "{:,}".format(g.db.query(User).filter(User.is_banned > 0).count()),
+			"banned users": "{:,}".format(g.db.query(User).filter(User.is_banned != None).count()),
 			"verified email users": "{:,}".format(g.db.query(User).filter_by(is_activated=True).count()),
 			"coins in circulation": "{:,}".format(g.db.query(func.sum(User.coins)).scalar()),
 			"total shop sales": "{:,}".format(g.db.query(func.sum(User.coins_spent)).scalar()),
diff --git a/files/routes/admin.py b/files/routes/admin.py
index a2a45c8e7..a7ce6cfb3 100644
--- a/files/routes/admin.py
+++ b/files/routes/admin.py
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ def revert_actions(v:User, username):
 		user.unban_utc = 0
 		user.ban_reason = None
 		if user.is_banned:
-			user.is_banned = 0
+			user.is_banned = None
 			send_repeatable_notification(user.id, f"@{v.username} (a site admin) has unbanned you!")
 		g.db.add(user)
 
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ def revert_actions(v:User, username):
 			u.unban_utc = 0
 			u.ban_reason = None
 			if u.is_banned:
-				u.is_banned = 0
+				u.is_banned = None
 				send_repeatable_notification(u.id, f"@{v.username} (a site admin) has unbanned you!")
 			g.db.add(u)
 
@@ -1135,7 +1135,7 @@ def unban_user(user_id, v):
 	if FEATURES['AWARDS'] and user.ban_reason and user.ban_reason.startswith('1-Day ban award'):
 		abort(403, "You can't undo a ban award!")
 
-	user.is_banned = 0
+	user.is_banned = None
 	user.unban_utc = 0
 	user.ban_reason = None
 	send_repeatable_notification(user.id, f"@{v.username} (a site admin) has unbanned you!")
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ def unban_user(user_id, v):
 
 	for x in user.alts:
 		if x.is_banned: send_repeatable_notification(x.id, f"@{v.username} (a site admin) has unbanned you!")
-		x.is_banned = 0
+		x.is_banned = None
 		x.unban_utc = 0
 		x.ban_reason = None
 		g.db.add(x)
diff --git a/files/routes/awards.py b/files/routes/awards.py
index fdc66e062..2b5d54235 100644
--- a/files/routes/awards.py
+++ b/files/routes/awards.py
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ def award_thing(v, thing_type, id):
 			send_repeatable_notification(author.id, "Your ban duration has been reduced by 1 day!")
 		else:
 			author.unban_utc = 0
-			author.is_banned = 0
+			author.is_banned = None
 			author.ban_reason = None
 			send_repeatable_notification(author.id, "You have been unbanned!")
 	elif kind == "grass":
diff --git a/files/routes/users.py b/files/routes/users.py
index 0445c6ff2..c2d64ff8d 100644
--- a/files/routes/users.py
+++ b/files/routes/users.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def user_voted_comments(v:User, username):
 @auth_required
 def banned(v:User):
 	users = g.db.query(User).filter(
-		User.is_banned > 0,
+		User.is_banned != None,
 		User.truescore > 0,
 		or_(User.unban_utc == 0, User.unban_utc > time.time()),
 		not_(and_(
diff --git a/migrations/20221213-is_banned_fkey.sql b/migrations/20221213-is_banned_fkey.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..90fd0a2c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/20221213-is_banned_fkey.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+alter table users alter column is_banned drop default;
+alter table users alter column is_banned drop not null;
+update users set is_banned=null where is_banned=0;
+create index fki_user_is_banned_fkey on public.users using btree (is_banned);
diff --git a/schema.sql b/schema.sql
index e7622c8c6..f26f09ad6 100644
--- a/schema.sql
+++ b/schema.sql
@@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ CREATE TABLE public.users (
     bio character varying(1500),
     bio_html character varying(10000),
     referred_by integer,
-    is_banned integer DEFAULT 0 NOT NULL,
+    is_banned integer,
     ban_reason character varying(256),
     login_nonce integer DEFAULT 0 NOT NULL,
     reserved character varying(256),
@@ -2752,4 +2752,3 @@ ALTER TABLE ONLY public.comments
 --
 -- PostgreSQL database dump complete
 --
-