diff --git a/backend/fluksio/cloud/connector.py b/backend/fluksio/cloud/connector.py
index fc720b9..2aa4ceb 100644
--- a/backend/fluksio/cloud/connector.py
+++ b/backend/fluksio/cloud/connector.py
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ class CloudConnector:
         self._connected_since: float | None = None
         self._last_error: str | None = None
         self._revoked = False
+        #: The portal account that owns this instance, as the last welcome said.
+        self._owner: str | None = None
 
     @property
     def revoked(self) -> bool:
@@ -235,7 +237,8 @@ class CloudConnector:
                     str(welcome.get("reason") or "refused by the portal")
                 )
 
-            self._adopt_owner(config, welcome.get("owner"))
+            self._owner = welcome.get("owner")
+            self._adopt_owner(config, self._owner)
 
             attached = True
             self._connected = True
@@ -256,6 +259,12 @@ class CloudConnector:
                         self._start_stream(socket, frame)
                     elif op == "ws_close":
                         self._cancel_stream(str(frame.get("id") or ""))
+                    elif op == "member_removed":
+                        await asyncio.to_thread(
+                            self._forget_member,
+                            str(frame.get("user") or ""),
+                            self._owner,
+                        )
             finally:
                 keepalive.cancel()
                 # Awaited, not just cancelled: a keepalive that died of its own
@@ -310,6 +319,35 @@ class CloudConnector:
             # link: everything else this connection does still works.
             logger.exception("Could not map the enrolling account to the portal owner")
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _forget_member(portal_sub: str, owner: str | None) -> None:
+        """Delete the local user of somebody the portal no longer admits.
+
+        Never the owner, and never a superuser: the portal only ever creates
+        ordinary accounts here, so those are not its to take away.
+        """
+        from sqlmodel import Session, select
+
+        from fluksio.core.db import engine
+        from fluksio.models import User
+
+        if not portal_sub or portal_sub == owner:
+            return
+        try:
+            with Session(engine) as session:
+                user = session.exec(
+                    select(User).where(User.portal_sub == portal_sub)
+                ).first()
+                if user is None or user.is_superuser:
+                    return
+                session.delete(user)
+                session.commit()
+                logger.info(
+                    "Deleted %s, removed from this instance at the portal", user.email
+                )
+        except Exception:
+            logger.exception("Could not delete the user the portal removed")
+
     @staticmethod
     def _local_account(session: Any, config: cloud_config.CloudConfig) -> Any:
         """The account this instance acts as, or the one that now stands for it.
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_cloud.py b/backend/tests/test_cloud.py
index f95f4c7..a51ced1 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_cloud.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_cloud.py
@@ -691,3 +691,29 @@ async def test_a_revoked_link_stands_down(enrolled: User) -> None:  # noqa: ARG0
         await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
         watcher.cancel()
     assert not started
+
+
+def test_a_member_removed_at_the_portal_loses_their_user(db: Session) -> None:
+    """The portal takes away only the ordinary accounts it gave."""
+    from fluksio.cloud.connector import CloudConnector
+
+    member = User(email="gone@example.com", hashed_password="x", portal_sub="p-9")
+    boss = User(
+        email="boss@example.com",
+        hashed_password="x",
+        portal_sub="p-8",
+        is_superuser=True,
+    )
+    db.add(member)
+    db.add(boss)
+    db.commit()
+    member_id, boss_id = member.id, boss.id
+
+    CloudConnector._forget_member("p-9", "p-8")
+    CloudConnector._forget_member("p-8", "p-8")
+    CloudConnector._forget_member("p-8", None)
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert db.get(User, member_id) is None
+    assert db.get(User, boss_id) is not None
+    db.delete(boss)
+    db.commit()
diff --git a/docs/interface/portal.md b/docs/interface/portal.md
index 45a1b07..f5221af 100644
--- a/docs/interface/portal.md
+++ b/docs/interface/portal.md
@@ -58,8 +58,9 @@ time-limited; generate a fresh one if it expires.
 connection error. The instance needs outbound access to the portal, and any
 proxy on that route must support WebSockets.
 
-- To remove a person's access, remove them from the portal's sharing dialog
-  or edit their account under **Admin → Users** and clear **Is active?**.
+- To remove a person's access, remove them from the portal's sharing dialog,
+  which also deletes their local account while the instance is connected, or
+  delete or deactivate their account under **Admin → Users**.
 - To end all portal access from the instance, press **Disconnect**. This stops
   the connection and invalidates portal credentials locally, without requiring
   the portal to be online.