diff --git a/gio/gkeyfilesettingsbackend.c b/gio/gkeyfilesettingsbackend.c
index 6601eba68..6f97da4f3 100644
--- a/gio/gkeyfilesettingsbackend.c
+++ b/gio/gkeyfilesettingsbackend.c
@@ -550,7 +550,9 @@ file_changed (GFileMonitor      *monitor,
 {
   GKeyfileSettingsBackend *kfsb = user_data;
 
-  g_keyfile_settings_backend_keyfile_reload (kfsb);
+  /* Ignore file deletions, let the GKeyFile content remain in tact. */
+  if (event_type != G_FILE_MONITOR_EVENT_DELETED)
+    g_keyfile_settings_backend_keyfile_reload (kfsb);
 }
 
 static void