diff --git a/bundles/openssh/items.py b/bundles/openssh/items.py
index 4760d87..4636b1b 100644
--- a/bundles/openssh/items.py
+++ b/bundles/openssh/items.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ users_from_metadata = set()
 additional_users = node.metadata.get('openssh', {}).get('allowed_users', set())
 
 for user, config in node.metadata.get('users', {}).items():
-    if 'ssh_pubkey' in config:
+    if 'ssh_pubkey' in config and not config.get('delete', False):
         users_from_metadata.add(user)
 
 login_users = users_from_metadata.union(additional_users)