diff --git a/inbox.py b/inbox.py
index 74e0918c..bfc99738 100644
--- a/inbox.py
+++ b/inbox.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from utils import getDomainFromActor
 from utils import getNicknameFromActor
 from utils import domainPermitted
 from utils import locatePost
+from utils import deletePost
 from httpsig import verifyPostHeaders
 from session import createSession
 from session import getJson
@@ -489,23 +490,6 @@ def receiveUndoLike(session,handle: str,baseDir: str, \
     undoLikesCollectionEntry(postFilename,messageJson['object'],messageJson['actor'],debug)
     return True
 
-def deletePost(baseDir: str,nickname: str,domain: str,postFilename: str,debug: bool):
-    """
-    """
-    repliesFilename=postFilename.replace('.json','.replies')
-    if os.path.isfile(repliesFilename):
-        if debug:
-            print('DEBUG: removing replies to '+postFilename)
-        with open(repliesFilename,'r') as f:
-            for replyId in f:
-                replyFile=locatePost(baseDir,nickname,domain,replyId)
-                if replyFile:
-                    if os.path.isfile(replyFile):
-                        os.remove(replyFile)
-        # remove the replies file itself
-        os.remove(repliesFilename)
-    os.remove(postFilename)    
-
 def receiveDelete(session,handle: str,baseDir: str, \
                   httpPrefix: str,domain :str,port: int, \
                   sendThreads: [],postLog: [],cachedWebfingers: {}, \
diff --git a/posts.py b/posts.py
index 7e8b76fd..5b962a93 100644
--- a/posts.py
+++ b/posts.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ from utils import createPersonDir
 from utils import urlPermitted
 from utils import getNicknameFromActor
 from utils import getDomainFromActor
+from utils import deletePost
 from capabilities import getOcapFilename
 from capabilities import capabilitiesUpdate
 from media import attachImage
@@ -999,16 +1000,14 @@ def archivePostsForPerson(nickname: str,domain: str,baseDir: str, \
     for postFilename in postsInBox:
         filePath = os.path.join(boxDir, postFilename)        
         if os.path.isfile(filePath):
-            repliesPath=filePath.replace('.json','.replies')
             if archiveDir:
+                repliesPath=filePath.replace('.json','.replies')
                 archivePath = os.path.join(archiveDir, postFilename)
                 os.rename(filePath,archivePath)
                 if os.path.isfile(repliesPath):
                     os.rename(repliesPath,archivePath)
             else:
-                os.remove(filePath)
-                if os.path.isfile(repliesPath):
-                    os.remove(repliesPath)
+                deletePost(baseDir,nickname,domain,filePath,False)
             noOfPosts -= 1
             if noOfPosts <= maxPostsInBox:
                 break
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index ec266cab..f5c1afdb 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -141,3 +141,20 @@ def locatePost(baseDir: str,nickname: str,domain: str,postUrl: str,replies=False
             if not os.path.isfile(postFilename):
                 postFilename=None
     return postFilename
+
+def deletePost(baseDir: str,nickname: str,domain: str,postFilename: str,debug: bool):
+    """Recursively deletes a post and its replies and attachments
+    """
+    repliesFilename=postFilename.replace('.json','.replies')
+    if os.path.isfile(repliesFilename):
+        if debug:
+            print('DEBUG: removing replies to '+postFilename)
+        with open(repliesFilename,'r') as f:
+            for replyId in f:
+                replyFile=locatePost(baseDir,nickname,domain,replyId)
+                if replyFile:
+                    if os.path.isfile(replyFile):
+                        deletePost(baseDir,nickname,domain,replyFile,debug)
+        # remove the replies file itself
+        os.remove(repliesFilename)
+    os.remove(postFilename)