diff --git a/backend/server/internal/database/db.go b/backend/server/internal/database/db.go
index d618395..9b8f200 100644
--- a/backend/server/internal/database/db.go
+++ b/backend/server/internal/database/db.go
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ func (db *DB) DeepClean(ctx context.Context) error {
 			return r.Error
 		}
 		r = tx.Exec(`
-		SELECT COUNT(*) FROM enc_history_entries WHERE
+		DELETE FROM enc_history_entries WHERE
 			date <= (now() - INTERVAL '180 days')
 			AND user_id IN (SELECT * FROM temp_users_with_one_device)
 			AND user_id IN (SELECT * FROM temp_inactive_users)
diff --git a/backend/server/internal/server/srv.go b/backend/server/internal/server/srv.go
index e24d49a..723c2d7 100644
--- a/backend/server/internal/server/srv.go
+++ b/backend/server/internal/server/srv.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func (s *Server) Run(ctx context.Context, addr string) error {
 		defer configureObservability(mux, s.releaseVersion)()
 		go func() {
 			if err := s.db.DeepClean(ctx); err != nil {
-				panic(err)
+				fmt.Println("failed to deep clean: %w", err)
 			}
 		}()
 	}