diff --git a/src/SlashingRegistryCoordinator.sol b/src/SlashingRegistryCoordinator.sol
index 22fafcfe..8292d4ee 100644
--- a/src/SlashingRegistryCoordinator.sol
+++ b/src/SlashingRegistryCoordinator.sol
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ contract SlashingRegistryCoordinator is
                 _deregisterOperator({
                     operator: operators[j],
                     quorumNumbers: singleQuorumNumber,
-                    shouldForceDeregister: true
+                    shouldForceDeregister: registeredInCore
                 });
             }
         }