diff --git a/lib/jsonapi/resource.rb b/lib/jsonapi/resource.rb
index 1cc081d25..5d960a0bd 100644
--- a/lib/jsonapi/resource.rb
+++ b/lib/jsonapi/resource.rb
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ def _remove_to_many_link(relationship_type, key, options)
 
         @reload_needed = true
       else
-        @model.public_send(relationship.relation_name(context: @context)).delete(key)
+        @model.public_send(relationship.relation_name(context: @context)).destroy(key)
       end
 
       :completed