diff --git a/modules/email/mu4e/config.el b/modules/email/mu4e/config.el
index 29c037ec6..dbd2fdf82 100644
--- a/modules/email/mu4e/config.el
+++ b/modules/email/mu4e/config.el
@@ -368,7 +368,8 @@ Must be set before org-msg is loaded to take effect.")
            :show-target (lambda (target) "delete")
            :action (lambda (docid msg target)
                      (if (+mu4e-msg-gmail-p msg)
-                         (progn (message "The delete operation is invalid for Gmail accounts.")
+                         (progn (message "The delete operation is invalid for Gmail accounts. Trashing instead.")
+                                (+mu4e--mark-seen docid msg target)
                                 (when (< 2 (- (float-time) +mu4e--last-invalid-gmail-action))
                                   (sit-for 1))
                                 (setq +mu4e--last-invalid-gmail-action (float-time)))
@@ -401,6 +402,7 @@ Must be set before org-msg is loaded to take effect.")
         (when (+mu4e-msg-gmail-p msg)
           (pcase mark
             (`trash  (mu4e-action-retag-message msg "-\\Inbox,+\\Trash,-\\Draft"))
+            (`delete (mu4e-action-retag-message msg "-\\Inbox,+\\Trash,-\\Draft"))
             (`refile (mu4e-action-retag-message msg "-\\Inbox"))
             (`flag   (mu4e-action-retag-message msg "+\\Starred"))
             (`unflag (mu4e-action-retag-message msg "-\\Starred"))))))))