diff --git a/auditlog/models.py b/auditlog/models.py
index 0b86318..255ad11 100644
--- a/auditlog/models.py
+++ b/auditlog/models.py
@@ -242,7 +242,21 @@ class LogEntryManager(models.Manager):
                 "fields", self._get_applicable_model_fields(instance, model_fields)
             )
 
+        #  safeguard: if fields explicitly set → only use them
+        if "fields" in kwargs:
+            allowed_fields = set(kwargs["fields"])
+        else:
+            allowed_fields = {f.name for f in instance._meta.fields}
+
         instance_copy = self._get_copy_with_python_typed_fields(instance)
+
+        #  drop any deferred field not in allowed_fields
+        for f in instance_copy._meta.fields:
+            if f.name not in allowed_fields and f.name in getattr(
+                instance_copy, "deferred_fields", []
+            ):
+                setattr(instance_copy, f.name, None)
+
         data = dict(
             json.loads(serializers.serialize("json", (instance_copy,), **kwargs))[0]
         )
diff --git a/auditlog_tests/tests.py b/auditlog_tests/tests.py
index 6764195..0f2f73e 100644
--- a/auditlog_tests/tests.py
+++ b/auditlog_tests/tests.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from django.db.models import JSONField, Value
 from django.db.models.functions import Now
 from django.db.models.signals import pre_save
 from django.test import RequestFactory, TestCase, TransactionTestCase, override_settings
+from django.test.utils import isolate_apps
 from django.urls import resolve, reverse
 from django.utils import dateformat, formats
 from django.utils import timezone as django_timezone
@@ -137,6 +138,26 @@ class SimpleModelTest(TestCase):
             msg="Changes string is correct",
         )
 
+    @isolate_apps("auditlog_tests")
+    def test_deletion_with_deferred_fields_does_not_crash(db):
+        from auditlog.models import LogEntry
+        from auditlog.registry import auditlog
+
+        class Book(models.Model):
+            title = models.CharField(max_length=100)
+            description = models.TextField()
+
+            class Meta:
+                app_label = "auditlog_tests"
+
+        auditlog.register(Book, serialize_data=True)
+
+        b = Book.objects.create(title="foo", description="bar")
+        b = Book.objects.defer("description").get(id=b.id)  # defer a field
+        b.delete()
+
+        assert LogEntry.objects.filter(object_pk=b.pk).exists()
+
     def test_update_specific_field_supplied_via_save_method(self):
         obj = self.obj