diff --git a/irc/accounts.go b/irc/accounts.go
index 9926c900..68a8b7a6 100644
--- a/irc/accounts.go
+++ b/irc/accounts.go
@@ -1174,7 +1174,12 @@ func (am *AccountManager) Unregister(account string, erase bool) error {
 	var channelsStr string
 	keepProtections := false
 	am.server.store.Update(func(tx *buntdb.Tx) error {
+		// get the unfolded account name; for an active account, this is
+		// stored under accountNameKey, for an unregistered account under unregisteredKey
 		accountName, _ = tx.Get(accountNameKey)
+		if accountName == "" {
+			accountName, _ = tx.Get(unregisteredKey)
+		}
 		if erase {
 			tx.Delete(unregisteredKey)
 		} else {
diff --git a/irc/nickserv.go b/irc/nickserv.go
index 4ea051c0..1f52a5df 100644
--- a/irc/nickserv.go
+++ b/irc/nickserv.go
@@ -841,6 +841,8 @@ func nsUnregisterHandler(server *Server, client *Client, command string, params
 	if erase {
 		// account may not be in a loadable state, e.g., if it was unregistered
 		accountName = username
+		// make the confirmation code nondeterministic for ERASE
+		registeredAt = server.ctime
 	} else {
 		account, err := server.accounts.LoadAccount(username)
 		if err == errAccountDoesNotExist {