diff --git a/src/services/Orders.php b/src/services/Orders.php
index a614e6b6e6..68f4dafde0 100644
--- a/src/services/Orders.php
+++ b/src/services/Orders.php
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ public function beforeDeleteUserHandler(ModelEvent $event): void
 
         // If there are any orders, make sure that this is not allowed.
         if (Order::find()->customerId($user->id)->status(null)->exists()) {
-            $event->isValid = false;
+            throw new Exception("Unable to delete a user with an existing order, user ID “{$user->id}”");
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/services/Subscriptions.php b/src/services/Subscriptions.php
index 78ef2e4b9e..240279f918 100644
--- a/src/services/Subscriptions.php
+++ b/src/services/Subscriptions.php
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ public function beforeDeleteUserHandler(ModelEvent $event): void
 
         // If there are any subscriptions, make sure that this is not allowed.
         if ($this->doesUserHaveSubscriptions($user->id)) {
-            $event->isValid = false;
+            throw new Exception("Unable to delete a user with an existing subscription, user ID “{$user->id}”");
         }
     }