diff --git a/capella2polarion/connectors/polarion_worker.py b/capella2polarion/connectors/polarion_worker.py
index 0bbee57..3d9bf49 100644
--- a/capella2polarion/connectors/polarion_worker.py
+++ b/capella2polarion/connectors/polarion_worker.py
@@ -187,6 +187,9 @@ def compare_and_update_work_item(
         assert old is not None
         assert old.id is not None
 
+        if old.status == self.project_client.work_items.delete_status:
+            old.checksum = None
+
         new.calculate_checksum()
         if not self.force_update and new.checksum == old.checksum:
             return
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index b27313a..a4d97ba 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -129,6 +129,9 @@ def _setup_polarion_worker(
     monkeypatch.setattr(polarion_api, "ProjectClient", mock_project_client)
     pw = polarion_worker.CapellaPolarionWorker(params)
     pw.project_client.work_items.create.side_effect = _set_work_item_id
+    pw.project_client.work_items.delete_status = (
+        None if params.delete_work_items else "deleted"
+    )
     return pw