diff --git a/vault_sync_daemon.py b/vault_sync_daemon.py
index a0ffbdc..7c23578 100644
--- a/vault_sync_daemon.py
+++ b/vault_sync_daemon.py
@@ -482,6 +482,29 @@ def _nearest_archive_note(archive_data_path):
     return note if os.path.exists(note) else None
 
 
+def _prune_deleted_plain_folder(vault_path, rel, data_path):
+    """
+    A non-ID folder vanished from /vault (typically a sync client applying
+    a rename as delete+create, so the old name's /data mirror is orphaned).
+    Remove the /data mirror only if its whole tree holds no files; if it
+    holds any, leave it and ping instead.
+    """
+    if rel.split(os.sep)[0] == vl.SYSTEM_META or _under_archive(rel):
+        return
+    if os.path.exists(vault_path) or not os.path.isdir(data_path):
+        return
+    if any(files for _, _, files in os.walk(data_path)):
+        log(f"KEPT /data mirror of deleted vault folder (has files): {rel}")
+        ntfy_post(
+            "Vault sync: deleted folder has blobs",
+            f"Folder removed from /vault but /data/{rel} contains files. Left in place.",
+            tags="warning",
+        )
+        return
+    shutil.rmtree(data_path)
+    log(f"PRUNED empty /data mirror of deleted vault folder: {rel}")
+
+
 def handle_vault_deleted(path):
     """
     An ID-shaped folder disappeared from /vault. Per design this normally
@@ -509,9 +532,10 @@ def handle_vault_deleted(path):
         return
     rel = os.path.relpath(path, VAULT)
     base = os.path.basename(path)
-    if not ID_RE.match(base):
-        return  # only care about ID-folder deletions
     data_path = os.path.join(DATA, rel)
+    if not ID_RE.match(base):
+        _prune_deleted_plain_folder(path, rel, data_path)
+        return
     if not os.path.isdir(data_path):
         return  # already handled (duplicate event) or no /data counterpart ever existed
     id_code = vl.id_code(base)