diff --git a/privatemsg.module b/privatemsg.module
index ac9b8a70e736a1d5a067ec97986b4d84079cd32e..8c9ecf21cbb1d2c87740f0004a110250c2dbf546 100755
--- a/privatemsg.module
+++ b/privatemsg.module
@@ -1241,12 +1241,11 @@ function privatemsg_sql_autocomplete($search, $names) {
  * @see hook_query_privatemsg_deleted_alter()
  */
 function privatemsg_sql_deleted($days, $max) {
-  $query = db_select('pm_message', 'pm');
-  $query->addField('pm', 'mid');
+  $query = db_select('pm_index', 'pmi');
+  $query->addField('pmi', 'mid');
 
-  $query->join('pm_index', 'pmi', 'pmi.mid = pm.mid');
   return $query
-    ->groupBy('pm.mid')
+    ->groupBy('pmi.mid')
     ->having('MIN(pmi.deleted) > 0 AND MAX(pmi.deleted) < :old', array(':old' => REQUEST_TIME - $days * 86400))
     ->range(0, $max);
 }