diff --git a/app/Http/Livewire/Form/CharacterForm.php b/app/Http/Livewire/Form/CharacterForm.php
index b08b505..2040bb6 100644
--- a/app/Http/Livewire/Form/CharacterForm.php
+++ b/app/Http/Livewire/Form/CharacterForm.php
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class CharacterForm extends Component
     public function rules()
     {
         return [
-            'character.name'    => [ 'required', 'min:4', Rule::unique('characters', 'name')->ignore($this->character) ],
+            'character.name'    => [ 'required', 'min:4', Rule::unique('characters', 'name')->ignore($this->character)->whereNotNull('deleted_at') ],
             'character.level'   => [ 'required', 'integer', 'min:1', 'max:70' ],
             'character.gender'  => [ 'required', 'in:M,F' ],
             'character.race'    => [ 'required', 'in:' . $this->races->keys()->join(',') ],