diff --git a/database.go b/database.go
index 0bc844b..c443cbd 100644
--- a/database.go
+++ b/database.go
@@ -1096,7 +1096,7 @@ var stmtFindFile, stmtGetFileData, stmtSaveFileData, stmtSaveFile *sql.Stmt
 var stmtCheckFileData *sql.Stmt
 var stmtAddDoover, stmtGetDoovers, stmtLoadDoover, stmtZapDoover, stmtOneHonker *sql.Stmt
 var stmtUntagged, stmtDeleteHonk, stmtDeleteDonks, stmtDeleteOnts, stmtSaveZonker *sql.Stmt
-var stmtGetZonkers, stmtRecentHonkers, stmtGetXonker, stmtSaveXonker, stmtDeleteXonker *sql.Stmt
+var stmtGetZonkers, stmtRecentHonkers, stmtGetXonker, stmtSaveXonker, stmtDeleteXonker, stmtDeleteOldXonkers *sql.Stmt
 var stmtAllOnts, stmtSaveOnt, stmtUpdateFlags, stmtClearFlags *sql.Stmt
 var stmtHonksForUserFirstClass *sql.Stmt
 var stmtSaveMeta, stmtDeleteAllMeta, stmtDeleteOneMeta, stmtDeleteSomeMeta, stmtUpdateHonk *sql.Stmt
@@ -1176,6 +1176,7 @@ func prepareStatements(db *sql.DB) {
 	stmtGetXonker = preparetodie(db, "select info from xonkers where name = ? and flavor = ?")
 	stmtSaveXonker = preparetodie(db, "insert into xonkers (name, info, flavor, dt) values (?, ?, ?, ?)")
 	stmtDeleteXonker = preparetodie(db, "delete from xonkers where name = ? and flavor = ? and dt < ?")
+	stmtDeleteOldXonkers = preparetodie(db, "delete from xonkers where flavor = ? and dt < ?")
 	stmtRecentHonkers = preparetodie(db, "select distinct(honker) from honks where userid = ? and honker not in (select xid from honkers where userid = ? and flavor = 'sub') order by honkid desc limit 100")
 	stmtUpdateFlags = preparetodie(db, "update honks set flags = flags | ? where honkid = ?")
 	stmtClearFlags = preparetodie(db, "update honks set flags = flags & ~ ? where honkid = ?")
diff --git a/web.go b/web.go
index 9a84518..54ed67f 100644
--- a/web.go
+++ b/web.go
@@ -2378,6 +2378,11 @@ var preservehooks []func()
 
 func bgmonitor() {
 	for {
+		when := time.Now().Add(-3 * 24 * time.Hour).UTC().Format(dbtimeformat)
+		_, err := stmtDeleteOldXonkers.Exec("pubkey", when)
+		if err != nil {
+			elog.Printf("error deleting old xonkers: %s", err)
+		}
 		time.Sleep(50 * time.Minute)
 	}
 }