diff --git a/api/src/Accounts/Import.php b/api/src/Accounts/Import.php
index 27cc01c9ce..4ef2c47bbb 100644
--- a/api/src/Accounts/Import.php
+++ b/api/src/Accounts/Import.php
@@ -569,6 +569,8 @@ class Import
 				}
 			}
 
+			// ignore / never delete anonymous user, which is required for EGroupware to function properly
+			$sql_users = array_diff($sql_users, ['anonymous']);
 			// do we need to delete (or deactivate) no longer existing users
 			if ($delete !== 'no' && $sql_users)
 			{