diff --git a/src/pretix/base/services/cart.py b/src/pretix/base/services/cart.py
index de93bf8139..8893a84214 100644
--- a/src/pretix/base/services/cart.py
+++ b/src/pretix/base/services/cart.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def _add_new_items(event: Event, items: List[dict],
         if item.hide_without_voucher and (voucher is None or voucher.item is None or voucher.item.pk != item.pk):
             return error_messages['voucher_required']
 
-        if len(quotas) == 0 or not item.is_available():
+        if len(quotas) == 0 or not item.is_available() or (variation and not variation.active):
             err = err or error_messages['unavailable']
             continue
 
diff --git a/src/pretix/base/services/orders.py b/src/pretix/base/services/orders.py
index 1878e65612..634033b151 100644
--- a/src/pretix/base/services/orders.py
+++ b/src/pretix/base/services/orders.py
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ def _check_positions(event: Event, now_dt: datetime, positions: List[CartPositio
 
     voucherids = set()
     for i, cp in enumerate(positions):
-        if not cp.item.active:
+        if not cp.item.active or (cp.variation and not cp.variation.active):
             err = err or error_messages['unavailable']
             cp.delete()
             continue
diff --git a/src/tests/presale/test_cart.py b/src/tests/presale/test_cart.py
index 2f59e7205d..34424c1e4a 100644
--- a/src/tests/presale/test_cart.py
+++ b/src/tests/presale/test_cart.py
@@ -117,6 +117,17 @@ class CartTest(CartTestMixin, TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(objs[0].variation)
         self.assertEqual(objs[0].price, 23)
 
+    def test_variation_inactive(self):
+        self.shirt_red.active = False
+        self.shirt_red.save()
+        response = self.client.post('/%s/%s/cart/add' % (self.orga.slug, self.event.slug), {
+            'variation_%d_%d' % (self.shirt.id, self.shirt_red.id): '1'
+        }, follow=True)
+        self.assertRedirects(response, '/%s/%s/' % (self.orga.slug, self.event.slug),
+                             target_status_code=200)
+        objs = list(CartPosition.objects.filter(cart_id=self.session_key, event=self.event))
+        self.assertEqual(len(objs), 0)
+
     def test_variation(self):
         response = self.client.post('/%s/%s/cart/add' % (self.orga.slug, self.event.slug), {
             'variation_%d_%d' % (self.shirt.id, self.shirt_red.id): '1'