diff --git a/backend/internal/data/repo/repo_items.go b/backend/internal/data/repo/repo_items.go
index 49943dc1..3d2390fc 100644
--- a/backend/internal/data/repo/repo_items.go
+++ b/backend/internal/data/repo/repo_items.go
@@ -810,6 +810,22 @@ func (e *ItemsRepository) DeleteByGroup(ctx context.Context, gid, id uuid.UUID)
 }
 
 func (e *ItemsRepository) WipeInventory(ctx context.Context, gid uuid.UUID, wipeLabels bool, wipeLocations bool, wipeMaintenance bool) (int, error) {
+	deleted := 0
+
+	// Wipe maintenance records if requested
+	// IMPORTANT: Must delete maintenance records BEFORE items since they are linked to items
+	if wipeMaintenance {
+		maintenanceCount, err := e.db.MaintenanceEntry.Delete().
+			Where(maintenanceentry.HasItemWith(item.HasGroupWith(group.ID(gid)))).
+			Exec(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Err(err).Msg("failed to delete maintenance entries during wipe inventory")
+		} else {
+			log.Info().Int("count", maintenanceCount).Msg("deleted maintenance entries during wipe inventory")
+			deleted += maintenanceCount
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Get all items for the group
 	items, err := e.db.Item.Query().
 		Where(item.HasGroupWith(group.ID(gid))).
@@ -819,7 +835,6 @@ func (e *ItemsRepository) WipeInventory(ctx context.Context, gid uuid.UUID, wipe
 		return 0, err
 	}
 
-	deleted := 0
 	// Delete each item with its attachments
 	// Note: We manually delete attachments and items instead of calling DeleteByGroup
 	// to continue processing remaining items even if some deletions fail
@@ -872,20 +887,6 @@ func (e *ItemsRepository) WipeInventory(ctx context.Context, gid uuid.UUID, wipe
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Wipe maintenance records if requested
-	if wipeMaintenance {
-		// Maintenance entries are linked to items, so we query by items in the group
-		maintenanceCount, err := e.db.MaintenanceEntry.Delete().
-			Where(maintenanceentry.HasItemWith(item.HasGroupWith(group.ID(gid)))).
-			Exec(ctx)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Err(err).Msg("failed to delete maintenance entries during wipe inventory")
-		} else {
-			log.Info().Int("count", maintenanceCount).Msg("deleted maintenance entries during wipe inventory")
-			deleted += maintenanceCount
-		}
-	}
-
 	e.publishMutationEvent(gid)
 	return deleted, nil
 }