diff --git a/app/models/topic.rb b/app/models/topic.rb
index 6192f727594..155736aa056 100644
--- a/app/models/topic.rb
+++ b/app/models/topic.rb
@@ -1103,14 +1103,13 @@ class Topic < ActiveRecord::Base
       topic_user = topic_allowed_users.find_by(user_id: user.id)
 
       if topic_user
-        topic_user.destroy
-
         if user.id == removed_by&.id
           add_small_action(removed_by, "user_left", user.username)
         else
           add_small_action(removed_by, "removed_user", user.username)
         end
 
+        topic_user.destroy
         return true
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/models/topic_spec.rb b/spec/models/topic_spec.rb
index 4db4f3a5546..9f8e466a7be 100644
--- a/spec/models/topic_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/topic_spec.rb
@@ -3081,6 +3081,17 @@ RSpec.describe Topic do
 
   describe "#remove_allowed_user" do
     fab!(:topic) { Fabricate(:topic) }
+    fab!(:private_topic) do
+      Fabricate(
+        :private_message_topic,
+        title: "Private message",
+        user: admin,
+        topic_allowed_users: [
+          Fabricate.build(:topic_allowed_user, user: admin),
+          Fabricate.build(:topic_allowed_user, user: user1),
+        ],
+      )
+    end
 
     describe "removing oneself" do
       it "should remove onself" do
@@ -3095,6 +3106,12 @@ RSpec.describe Topic do
         expect(post.post_type).to eq(Post.types[:small_action])
         expect(post.action_code).to eq("user_left")
       end
+
+      it "should show a small action when user removes themselves from pm" do
+        expect do private_topic.remove_allowed_user(user1, user1) end.to change {
+          private_topic.posts.where(action_code: "user_left").count
+        }.by(1)
+      end
     end
   end