diff --git a/crates/api/src/site/purge/person.rs b/crates/api/src/site/purge/person.rs
index 658846eab..6023d7b41 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/site/purge/person.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/site/purge/person.rs
@@ -3,15 +3,13 @@ use activitypub_federation::config::Data;
 use actix_web::web::Json;
 use lemmy_api_common::{
   context::LemmyContext,
-  request::delete_image_from_pictrs,
   send_activity::{ActivityChannel, SendActivityData},
   site::PurgePerson,
-  utils::is_admin,
+  utils::{is_admin, purge_user_account},
   SuccessResponse,
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   source::{
-    images::LocalImage,
     moderator::{AdminPurgePerson, AdminPurgePersonForm},
     person::{Person, PersonUpdateForm},
   },
@@ -29,18 +27,6 @@ pub async fn purge_person(
   // Only let admin purge an item
   is_admin(&local_user_view)?;
 
-  // Read the local user to get their images, and delete them
-  if let Ok(local_user) = LocalUserView::read_person(&mut context.pool(), data.person_id).await {
-    let pictrs_uploads =
-      LocalImage::get_all_by_local_user_id(&mut context.pool(), local_user.local_user.id).await?;
-
-    for upload in pictrs_uploads {
-      delete_image_from_pictrs(&upload.pictrs_alias, &upload.pictrs_delete_token, &context)
-        .await
-        .ok();
-    }
-  }
-
   let person = Person::read(&mut context.pool(), data.person_id).await?;
   ban_nonlocal_user_from_local_communities(
     &local_user_view,
@@ -54,7 +40,8 @@ pub async fn purge_person(
   .await?;
 
   // Clear profile data.
-  Person::delete_account(&mut context.pool(), data.person_id).await?;
+  purge_user_account(data.person_id, &context).await?;
+
   // Keep person record, but mark as banned to prevent login or refetching from home instance.
   let person = Person::update(
     &mut context.pool(),
diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs b/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs
index e4ab91b08..73333c3a0 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
   context::LemmyContext,
-  request::purge_image_from_pictrs,
+  request::{delete_image_from_pictrs, purge_image_from_pictrs},
   site::{FederatedInstances, InstanceWithFederationState},
 };
 use chrono::{DateTime, Days, Local, TimeZone, Utc};
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use lemmy_db_schema::{
     community::{Community, CommunityModerator, CommunityUpdateForm},
     community_block::CommunityBlock,
     email_verification::{EmailVerification, EmailVerificationForm},
-    images::RemoteImage,
+    images::{LocalImage, RemoteImage},
     instance::Instance,
     instance_block::InstanceBlock,
     local_site::LocalSite,
@@ -663,6 +663,25 @@ pub async fn purge_image_posts_for_person(
   Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Delete a local_user's images
+async fn delete_local_user_images(
+  person_id: PersonId,
+  context: &LemmyContext,
+) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
+  if let Ok(local_user) = LocalUserView::read_person(&mut context.pool(), person_id).await {
+    let pictrs_uploads =
+      LocalImage::get_all_by_local_user_id(&mut context.pool(), local_user.local_user.id).await?;
+
+    // Delete their images
+    for upload in pictrs_uploads {
+      delete_image_from_pictrs(&upload.pictrs_alias, &upload.pictrs_delete_token, context)
+        .await
+        .ok();
+    }
+  }
+  Ok(())
+}
+
 pub async fn purge_image_posts_for_community(
   banned_community_id: CommunityId,
   context: &LemmyContext,
@@ -804,15 +823,22 @@ pub async fn purge_user_account(
   context: &LemmyContext,
 ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
   let pool = &mut context.pool();
-  // Delete their images
+
   let person = Person::read(pool, person_id).await?;
+
+  // Delete their local images, if they're a local user
+  delete_local_user_images(person_id, context).await.ok();
+
+  // No need to update avatar and banner, those are handled in Person::delete_account
   if let Some(avatar) = person.avatar {
     purge_image_from_pictrs(&avatar, context).await.ok();
   }
   if let Some(banner) = person.banner {
     purge_image_from_pictrs(&banner, context).await.ok();
   }
-  // No need to update avatar and banner, those are handled in Person::delete_account
+
+  // Purge image posts
+  purge_image_posts_for_person(person_id, context).await.ok();
 
   // Comments
   Comment::permadelete_for_creator(pool, person_id)
@@ -824,9 +850,6 @@ pub async fn purge_user_account(
     .await
     .with_lemmy_type(LemmyErrorType::CouldntUpdatePost)?;
 
-  // Purge image posts
-  purge_image_posts_for_person(person_id, context).await?;
-
   // Leave communities they mod
   CommunityModerator::leave_all_communities(pool, person_id).await?;