diff --git a/soft_delete.go b/soft_delete.go
index b3280ff7..f3272246 100644
--- a/soft_delete.go
+++ b/soft_delete.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func (n DeletedAt) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 
 func (n *DeletedAt) UnmarshalJSON(b []byte) error {
 	err := json.Unmarshal(b, &n.Time)
-	if err == nil {
+	if err == nil && !n.Time.IsZero() {
 		n.Valid = true
 	}
 	return err
diff --git a/tests/soft_delete_test.go b/tests/soft_delete_test.go
index 40d46fd8..c77675f7 100644
--- a/tests/soft_delete_test.go
+++ b/tests/soft_delete_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package tests_test
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -42,3 +43,14 @@ func TestSoftDelete(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Can't find permanently deleted record")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestDeletedAtUnMarshal(t *testing.T) {
+	expected := &gorm.Model{}
+	b, _ := json.Marshal(expected)
+
+	result := &gorm.Model{}
+	_ = json.Unmarshal(b, result)
+	if result.DeletedAt != expected.DeletedAt {
+		t.Errorf("Failed, result.DeletedAt: %v is not same as expected.DeletedAt: %v", result.DeletedAt, expected.DeletedAt)
+	}
+}