diff --git a/app/controllers/blocks_controller.rb b/app/controllers/blocks_controller.rb
index fe3ced956..1065bd103 100644
--- a/app/controllers/blocks_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/blocks_controller.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ class BlocksController < ApplicationController
     block = current_user.blocks.new(params[:block])
 
     if block.save
+      disconnect_if_contact(block.person)
       notice = {:notice => t('blocks.create.success')}
     else
       notice = {:error => t('blocks.create.failure')}
@@ -20,4 +21,12 @@ class BlocksController < ApplicationController
     end
     redirect_to :back, notice
   end
+
+  protected
+
+  def disconnect_if_contact(person)
+    if contact = current_user.contact_for(person)
+      current_user.disconnect(contact, :force => true)
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/diaspora/user/connecting.rb b/lib/diaspora/user/connecting.rb
index bcaf168a7..be2c150a6 100644
--- a/lib/diaspora/user/connecting.rb
+++ b/lib/diaspora/user/connecting.rb
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ module Diaspora
         end
       end
 
-      def disconnect(bad_contact)
+      def disconnect(bad_contact, opts={})
         person = bad_contact.person
         Rails.logger.info("event=disconnect user=#{diaspora_handle} target=#{person.diaspora_handle}")
         retraction = Retraction.for(self)
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ module Diaspora
         Postzord::Dispatcher.build(self, retraction).post
 
         AspectMembership.where(:contact_id => bad_contact.id).delete_all
-        remove_contact(bad_contact)
+        remove_contact(bad_contact, opts)
       end
 
       def disconnected_by(person)
diff --git a/spec/controllers/blocks_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/blocks_controller_spec.rb
index fb9567c98..0fe07a91c 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/blocks_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/blocks_controller_spec.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ describe BlocksController do
   describe "#create" do
     it "creates a block" do
       expect {
-        post :create, :block => { :person_id => 2 }
+        post :create, :block => {:person_id => eve.person.id}
       }.should change { alice.blocks.count }.by(1)
     end
 
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ describe BlocksController do
 
       flash.should_not be_empty
     end
+
+    it "calls #disconnect_if_contact" do
+      @controller.should_receive(:disconnect_if_contact).with(bob.person)
+      post :create, :block => {:person_id => bob.person.id}
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#destroy" do
@@ -41,4 +46,22 @@ describe BlocksController do
       }.should change { alice.blocks.count }.by(-1)
     end
   end
+
+  describe "#disconnect_if_contact" do
+    before do
+      @controller.stub(:current_user).and_return(alice)
+    end
+
+    it "calls disconnect with the force option if there is a contact for a given user" do
+      contact = alice.contact_for(bob.person)
+      alice.stub(:contact_for).and_return(contact)
+      alice.should_receive(:disconnect).with(contact, hash_including(:force => true))
+      @controller.send(:disconnect_if_contact, bob.person)
+    end
+
+    it "doesn't call disconnect if there is a contact for a given user" do
+      alice.should_not_receive(:disconnect)
+      @controller.send(:disconnect_if_contact, eve.person)
+    end
+  end
 end