diff --git a/hindsight-api-slim/hindsight_api/engine/retain/chunk_storage.py b/hindsight-api-slim/hindsight_api/engine/retain/chunk_storage.py
index e1c5fab714..0f95fe2a69 100644
--- a/hindsight-api-slim/hindsight_api/engine/retain/chunk_storage.py
+++ b/hindsight-api-slim/hindsight_api/engine/retain/chunk_storage.py
@@ -64,8 +64,53 @@ async def delete_chunks_by_ids(conn, chunk_ids: list[str]) -> None:
     """
     if not chunk_ids:
         return
+
+    # PostgreSQL's FK cascade deletes child memory_links in executor-chosen
+    # order. Concurrent chunk deletes for the same bank can then lock overlapping
+    # memory_links in opposite orders and deadlock. Delete links explicitly in a
+    # total order before deleting chunks so every writer takes row locks the same
+    # way; the FK cascade still handles anything inserted later in this txn.
+    await conn.execute(
+        f"""
+        WITH target_units AS MATERIALIZED (
+            SELECT id
+            FROM {fq_table("memory_units")}
+            WHERE chunk_id = ANY($1::text[])
+        ),
+        ordered_links AS MATERIALIZED (
+            SELECT ml.ctid
+            FROM {fq_table("memory_links")} ml
+            WHERE EXISTS (
+                SELECT 1
+                FROM target_units tu
+                WHERE tu.id = ml.from_unit_id OR tu.id = ml.to_unit_id
+            )
+            ORDER BY
+                LEAST(ml.from_unit_id, ml.to_unit_id),
+                GREATEST(ml.from_unit_id, ml.to_unit_id),
+                ml.link_type,
+                COALESCE(ml.entity_id, '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000'::uuid)
+            FOR UPDATE OF ml
+        )
+        DELETE FROM {fq_table("memory_links")} ml
+        USING ordered_links ol
+        WHERE ml.ctid = ol.ctid
+        """,
+        chunk_ids,
+    )
     await conn.execute(
-        f"DELETE FROM {fq_table('chunks')} WHERE chunk_id = ANY($1::text[])",
+        f"""
+        WITH ordered_chunks AS MATERIALIZED (
+            SELECT chunk_id
+            FROM {fq_table("chunks")}
+            WHERE chunk_id = ANY($1::text[])
+            ORDER BY chunk_id
+            FOR UPDATE
+        )
+        DELETE FROM {fq_table("chunks")} c
+        USING ordered_chunks oc
+        WHERE c.chunk_id = oc.chunk_id
+        """,
         chunk_ids,
     )
 
diff --git a/hindsight-api-slim/tests/test_chunk_storage_delete_ordering.py b/hindsight-api-slim/tests/test_chunk_storage_delete_ordering.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b25d535644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hindsight-api-slim/tests/test_chunk_storage_delete_ordering.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+"""Regression coverage for deterministic chunk deletion ordering."""
+
+import pytest
+
+from hindsight_api.engine.retain import chunk_storage
+
+
+class RecordingConn:
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.calls: list[tuple[str, tuple[object, ...]]] = []
+
+    async def execute(self, sql: str, *args: object) -> None:
+        self.calls.append((sql, args))
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_delete_chunks_by_ids_predeletes_links_before_chunks():
+    conn = RecordingConn()
+    chunk_ids = ["chunk-b", "chunk-a"]
+
+    await chunk_storage.delete_chunks_by_ids(conn, chunk_ids)
+
+    assert len(conn.calls) == 2
+    link_sql, link_args = conn.calls[0]
+    chunk_sql, chunk_args = conn.calls[1]
+
+    assert link_args == (chunk_ids,)
+    assert chunk_args == (chunk_ids,)
+
+    assert "DELETE FROM" in link_sql
+    assert "memory_links" in link_sql
+    assert "target_units AS MATERIALIZED" in link_sql
+    assert "ordered_links AS MATERIALIZED" in link_sql
+    assert "ORDER BY" in link_sql
+    assert "FOR UPDATE OF ml" in link_sql
+
+    assert "DELETE FROM" in chunk_sql
+    assert "chunks" in chunk_sql
+    assert "ordered_chunks AS MATERIALIZED" in chunk_sql
+    assert "ORDER BY chunk_id" in chunk_sql
+    assert "FOR UPDATE" in chunk_sql
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_delete_chunks_by_ids_noops_without_chunks():
+    conn = RecordingConn()
+
+    await chunk_storage.delete_chunks_by_ids(conn, [])
+
+    assert conn.calls == []