diff --git a/changelog.d/+7865cde6.feature.md b/changelog.d/+7865cde6.feature.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..03f6699a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/+7865cde6.feature.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Users may now be forbidden from deactivating their own accounts with the new `allow_deactivation` config option.
diff --git a/conduwuit-example.toml b/conduwuit-example.toml
index c657fa8eb..993434f3c 100644
--- a/conduwuit-example.toml
+++ b/conduwuit-example.toml
@@ -521,6 +521,16 @@
 #
 #recaptcha_private_site_key =
 
+# Controls whether users are allowed to deactivate their own accounts
+# through the account management panel or their Matrix clients. Server
+# admins can always deactivate users using the relevant admin commands.
+#
+# Note that, in some jurisdictions, you may be legally required to honor
+# users who request to deactivate their accounts if you set this option
+# to `false`.
+#
+#allow_deactivation = true
+
 # Controls whether encrypted rooms and events are allowed.
 #
 #allow_encryption = true
diff --git a/src/api/client/account/mod.rs b/src/api/client/account/mod.rs
index 8ecaa9ffd..b54ef029d 100644
--- a/src/api/client/account/mod.rs
+++ b/src/api/client/account/mod.rs
@@ -283,6 +283,13 @@ pub(crate) async fn deactivate_route(
 
 	let sender_user = identity.sender_user();
 
+	if !services.config.allow_deactivation {
+		return Err!(Request(Unauthorized(
+			"You may not deactivate your own account. Contact your server's administrator for \
+			 assistance."
+		)));
+	}
+
 	// Prompt the user to confirm with their password using UIAA
 	let _ = services
 		.uiaa
diff --git a/src/core/config/mod.rs b/src/core/config/mod.rs
index 080aaead4..cf298ecdb 100644
--- a/src/core/config/mod.rs
+++ b/src/core/config/mod.rs
@@ -663,6 +663,17 @@ pub struct Config {
 	#[serde(default)]
 	pub oauth: OauthConfig,
 
+	/// Controls whether users are allowed to deactivate their own accounts
+	/// through the account management panel or their Matrix clients. Server
+	/// admins can always deactivate users using the relevant admin commands.
+	///
+	/// Note that, in some jurisdictions, you may be legally required to honor
+	/// users who request to deactivate their accounts if you set this option
+	/// to `false`.
+	///
+	/// default: true
+	pub allow_deactivation: bool,
+
 	/// Controls whether encrypted rooms and events are allowed.
 	#[serde(default = "true_fn")]
 	pub allow_encryption: bool,
diff --git a/src/web/pages/account/deactivate.rs b/src/web/pages/account/deactivate.rs
index 01e6279f7..01640175c 100644
--- a/src/web/pages/account/deactivate.rs
+++ b/src/web/pages/account/deactivate.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ template! {
 #[derive(Debug)]
 #[allow(clippy::large_enum_variant)]
 enum DeactivateBody {
+	Unavailable,
 	Form {
 		user_id: OwnedUserId,
 		user_card: UserCard,
@@ -67,7 +68,9 @@ async fn route_deactivate(
 	let user_card = UserCard::for_local_user(&services, user_id.clone()).await;
 
 	let body = {
-		if let Some(form) = form {
+		if !services.config.allow_deactivation {
+			DeactivateBody::Unavailable
+		} else if let Some(form) = form {
 			if let Err(err) = validate_deactivate_form(&services, &user_id, form).await {
 				DeactivateBody::Form {
 					user_id,
diff --git a/src/web/pages/templates/deactivate.html.j2 b/src/web/pages/templates/deactivate.html.j2
index f5867d8fa..93c7f4e20 100644
--- a/src/web/pages/templates/deactivate.html.j2
+++ b/src/web/pages/templates/deactivate.html.j2
@@ -5,9 +5,18 @@ Deactivate your account
 {%- endblock -%}
 
 {%- block content -%}
+{% match body %}
+    {% when DeactivateBody::Form { .. } | DeactivateBody::Success %}
 <div class="panel">
+    {% when DeactivateBody::Unavailable %}
+<div class="panel middle"/>
+{% endmatch %}
     <h1>Deactivate your account <a class="back" href="{{ crate::ROUTE_PREFIX }}/account/">Back</a></h1>
     {% match body %}
+        {% when DeactivateBody::Unavailable %}
+            <p>
+                To deactivate your account, contact your homeserver's administrator.
+            </p>
         {% when DeactivateBody::Form { user_id, user_card, form } %}
             {{ user_card }}
             <p>