diff --git a/src/backend/core/tasks/item.py b/src/backend/core/tasks/item.py
index d6c6d81d..1810b5c6 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/tasks/item.py
+++ b/src/backend/core/tasks/item.py
@@ -34,10 +34,7 @@ def process_item_deletion(item_id):
         logger.error("To process an item deletion, it must be hard deleted first.")
         return
 
-    if (
-        item.type == ItemTypeChoices.FILE
-        and item.upload_state == ItemUploadStateChoices.READY
-    ):
+    if item.type == ItemTypeChoices.FILE:
         logger.info("Deleting file %s", item.file_key)
         default_storage.delete(item.file_key)
 
diff --git a/src/backend/core/tests/tasks/items/test_process_deletion.py b/src/backend/core/tests/tasks/items/test_process_deletion.py
index 09270979..b5768877 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/tests/tasks/items/test_process_deletion.py
+++ b/src/backend/core/tests/tasks/items/test_process_deletion.py
@@ -36,22 +36,10 @@ def test_process_item_deletion_item_does_not_exist(caplog):
     assert "Item 1 does not exist" in caplog.records[0].message
 
 
-def test_process_item_deletion_item_file_is_not_ready():
-    """Test the process deletion task when the item file is not ready."""
-    item = factories.ItemFactory(type=models.ItemTypeChoices.FILE)
-    item.soft_delete()
-    item.hard_delete()
-
-    process_item_deletion(item.id)
-
-    assert not models.Item.objects.filter(id=item.id).exists()
-
-
 def test_process_item_deletion_item_file_is_ready():
     """Test the process deletion task when the item file is ready."""
     item = factories.ItemFactory(
         type=models.ItemTypeChoices.FILE,
-        update_upload_state=models.ItemUploadStateChoices.READY,
         filename="foo.txt",
     )
     item.soft_delete()