diff -u b/src/EntityReferenceRevisionsItem.php b/src/EntityReferenceRevisionsItem.php
--- b/src/EntityReferenceRevisionsItem.php
+++ b/src/EntityReferenceRevisionsItem.php
@@ -39,7 +39,12 @@
         $needs_save = TRUE;
       }
       if ($needs_save) {
-        $this->entity->save();
+        if ($host->_deleted->value == TRUE) {
+          $this->entity->delete();
+        }
+        else {
+          $this->entity->save();
+        }
       }
     }
     if ($this->entity) {