diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
index 42068c043..a1139ca99 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ module ApplicationHelper
       id name level level_string theme always_resize_images can_upload_free
       can_approve_posts disable_categorized_saved_searches
       disable_mobile_gestures disable_post_tooltips enable_safe_mode
-      show_deleted_children style_usernames
+      show_deleted_posts show_deleted_children style_usernames
       default_image_size
     ] + User::Roles.map { |role| :"is_#{role}?" }
 
diff --git a/app/logical/post_sets/post.rb b/app/logical/post_sets/post.rb
index 0a6efd87c..5f9bcdf5c 100644
--- a/app/logical/post_sets/post.rb
+++ b/app/logical/post_sets/post.rb
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ module PostSets
     MAX_SIDEBAR_TAGS = 25
     MAX_WILDCARD_TAGS = PostQueryBuilder::MAX_WILDCARD_TAGS
 
-    attr_reader :page, :format, :tag_string, :query, :post_query, :normalized_query, :show_votes
+    attr_reader :current_user, :page, :format, :tag_string, :query, :post_query, :normalized_query, :show_votes
     delegate :tag, to: :post_query
     alias_method :show_votes?, :show_votes
 
     def initialize(tags, page = 1, per_page = nil, user: CurrentUser.user, format: "html", show_votes: false)
+      @current_user = user
       @query = PostQueryBuilder.new(tags, user, tag_limit: user.tag_query_limit, safe_mode: CurrentUser.safe_mode?)
       @post_query = PostQuery.normalize(tags, current_user: user, tag_limit: user.tag_query_limit, safe_mode: CurrentUser.safe_mode?)
       @normalized_query = post_query.with_implicit_metatags
@@ -134,6 +135,10 @@ module PostSets
     end
 
     def show_deleted?
+      current_user.show_deleted_posts? || has_status_metatag?
+    end
+
+    def has_status_metatag?
       post_query.select_metatags("status").any? do |metatag|
         metatag.value.downcase.in?(%w[all any active unmoderated modqueue deleted appealed])
       end
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 0bbd3a6c0..d2c41cfc1 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ class User < ApplicationRecord
     no_feedback
     requires_verification
     is_verified
+    show_deleted_posts
   ]
 
   DEFAULT_BLACKLIST = ["guro", "scat", "furry -rating:s"].join("\n")
diff --git a/app/policies/user_policy.rb b/app/policies/user_policy.rb
index 55a13c540..f840dd50a 100644
--- a/app/policies/user_policy.rb
+++ b/app/policies/user_policy.rb
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class UserPolicy < ApplicationPolicy
       blacklisted_tags time_zone per_page custom_style theme
       receive_email_notifications always_resize_images
       new_post_navigation_layout enable_private_favorites
-      style_usernames show_deleted_children
+      style_usernames show_deleted_posts show_deleted_children
       disable_categorized_saved_searches disable_tagged_filenames
       disable_mobile_gestures enable_safe_mode
       enable_desktop_mode disable_post_tooltips
diff --git a/app/views/users/edit.html.erb b/app/views/users/edit.html.erb
index 00b3aeaaf..351ba0a2b 100644
--- a/app/views/users/edit.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/users/edit.html.erb
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
 
         <%= f.input :style_usernames, :as => :select, :label => "Colored usernames", :hint => "Color users according to their user level", :include_blank => false, :collection => [["Yes", "true"], ["No", "false"]] %>
         <%= f.input :new_post_navigation_layout, :as => :select, :label => "Navigation bar position", :include_blank => false, :collection => [["Below", "true"], ["Above", "false"]], :hint => "When browsing pools or posts, place navigation links above or below the image" %>
+        <%= f.input :show_deleted_posts, as: :select, hint: "Show deleted posts in searches", collection: [["No", "false"], ["Yes", "true"]], include_blank: false %>
         <%= f.input :show_deleted_children, :as => :select, :label => "Show deleted children", :hint => "Show thumbnail borders on parent posts even if the children are deleted", :include_blank => false, :collection => [["Yes", "true"], ["No", "false"]] %>
         <%= f.input :disable_categorized_saved_searches, :hint => "Don't show dialog box when creating a new saved search", :as => :select, :collection => [["No", "false"], ["Yes", "true"]], :include_blank => false %>
         <% if policy(@user).can_enable_private_favorites? %>