diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/UserController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/UserController.php
index 2fcfa4289..cd95f7220 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/UserController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/UserController.php
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ class UserController extends Controller
         $this->checkPermissionOrCurrentUser('users-manage', $id);
 
         $user = $this->userRepo->getById($id);
-        $newOwnerId = $request->get('new_owner_id', null);
+        $newOwnerId = intval($request->get('new_owner_id')) ?: null;
 
         $this->userRepo->destroy($user, $newOwnerId);
 
diff --git a/tests/User/UserManagementTest.php b/tests/User/UserManagementTest.php
index d5cd7ac79..7ccc5b773 100644
--- a/tests/User/UserManagementTest.php
+++ b/tests/User/UserManagementTest.php
@@ -162,6 +162,16 @@ class UserManagementTest extends TestCase
         ]);
     }
 
+    public function test_delete_with_empty_owner_migration_id_works()
+    {
+        $user = $this->users->editor();
+
+        $resp = $this->asAdmin()->delete("settings/users/{$user->id}", ['new_owner_id' => '']);
+        $resp->assertRedirect('/settings/users');
+        $this->assertActivityExists(ActivityType::USER_DELETE);
+        $this->assertSessionHas('success');
+    }
+
     public function test_delete_removes_user_preferences()
     {
         $editor = $this->users->editor();