diff --git a/learning_resources_search/tasks.py b/learning_resources_search/tasks.py
index 322fcd05f3..1d94d7b935 100644
--- a/learning_resources_search/tasks.py
+++ b/learning_resources_search/tasks.py
@@ -797,7 +797,9 @@ def finish_recreate_index(results, backing_indices):
     errors = merge_strings(results)
     if errors:
         try:
-            api.delete_orphaned_indexes()
+            api.delete_orphaned_indexes(
+                list(backing_indices.keys()), delete_reindexing_tags=True
+            )
         except RequestError as ex:
             raise RetryError(str(ex)) from ex
         msg = f"Errors occurred during recreate_index: {errors}"