diff --git a/src/pretix/control/views/subevents.py b/src/pretix/control/views/subevents.py
index e047f5f308..150d8a7e5e 100644
--- a/src/pretix/control/views/subevents.py
+++ b/src/pretix/control/views/subevents.py
@@ -174,21 +174,38 @@ class SubEventDelete(EventPermissionRequiredMixin, CompatDeleteView):
             return HttpResponseRedirect(self.get_success_url())
         return super().get(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
-    @transaction.atomic
     def delete(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         self.object = self.get_object()
         success_url = self.get_success_url()
 
-        if not self.object.allow_delete():
-            messages.error(request, pgettext_lazy('subevent', 'A date can not be deleted if orders already have been '
-                                                              'placed.'))
-            return HttpResponseRedirect(self.get_success_url())
+        try:
+            with transaction.atomic():
+                if not self.object.allow_delete():
+                    messages.error(request, pgettext_lazy('subevent', 'A date can not be deleted if orders already have been '
+                                                                      'placed.'))
+                    return HttpResponseRedirect(success_url)
+                self.object.log_action('pretix.subevent.deleted', user=self.request.user)
+                CartPosition.objects.filter(addon_to__subevent=self.object).delete()
+                self.object.cartposition_set.all().delete()
+                self.object.delete()
+        except ProtectedError:
+            if self.object.active:
+                with transaction.atomic():
+                    self.object.log_action(
+                        'pretix.subevent.changed', user=self.request.user, data={
+                            'active': False
+                        },
+                    )
+                self.object.active = False
+                self.object.save(update_fields=['active'])
+            messages.error(self.request, pgettext_lazy(
+                'subevent',
+                'The date could not be deleted as some constraints (e.g. data created by plug-ins) did not allow '
+                'it. The date was disabled instead.'
+            ))
         else:
-            self.object.log_action('pretix.subevent.deleted', user=self.request.user)
-            CartPosition.objects.filter(addon_to__subevent=self.object).delete()
-            self.object.cartposition_set.all().delete()
-            self.object.delete()
             messages.success(request, pgettext_lazy('subevent', 'The selected date has been deleted.'))
+
         return HttpResponseRedirect(success_url)
 
     def get_success_url(self) -> str: