diff --git a/src/app/index.coffee b/src/app/index.coffee
index 58acd472bf..f370dd6f90 100644
--- a/src/app/index.coffee
+++ b/src/app/index.coffee
@@ -155,8 +155,16 @@ ready (model) ->
 
   exports.del = (e, el) ->
     # Derby extends model.at to support creation from DOM nodes
-    task = model.at(e.target)
-    
+    #task = model.at(e.target)
+    # FIXME normally that would work, and we'd later simply call `user.del task` (instead of that 4-liner down there)
+    # however, see https://github.com/lefnire/habitrpg/pull/226#discussion_r2810391
+
+    id = $(e.target).parents('li.task').attr('data-id')
+    return unless id?
+
+    task = user.at "tasks.#{id}"
+    type = task.get('type')
+
     history = task.get('history')
     if history and history.length>2
       # prevent delete-and-recreate hack on red tasks
@@ -166,7 +174,7 @@ ready (model) ->
           return # Cancel. Don't delete, don't hurt user 
         else
           task.set('type','habit') # hack to make sure it hits HP, instead of performing "undo checkbox"
-          scoring.score(task.get('id'), direction:'down')
+          scoring.score(id, direction:'down')
           
       # prevent accidently deleting long-standing tasks
       else
@@ -176,8 +184,12 @@ ready (model) ->
     #TODO bug where I have to delete from _users.tasks AND _{type}List, 
     # fix when query subscriptions implemented properly
     $('[rel=tooltip]').tooltip('hide')
-    user.del('tasks.'+task.get('id'))
-    task.remove()
+
+    ids = user.get("#{type}Ids")
+    ids.splice(ids.indexOf(id),1)
+    user.del('tasks.'+id)
+    user.set("#{type}Ids", ids)
+
     
   exports.clearCompleted = (e, el) ->
     todoIds = user.get('todoIds')