diff --git a/cassandra/cqlengine/columns.py b/cassandra/cqlengine/columns.py
index 10e4e32b..3c353d90 100644
--- a/cassandra/cqlengine/columns.py
+++ b/cassandra/cqlengine/columns.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class BaseValueManager(object):
 
     @property
     def deleted(self):
-        return self.value is None and (self.explicit or self.previous_value is not None)
+        return self.column._val_is_null(self.value) and (self.explicit or self.previous_value is not None)
 
     @property
     def changed(self):