diff --git a/peeringdb_server/management/commands/pdb_api_test.py b/peeringdb_server/management/commands/pdb_api_test.py
index a4a7d8a2..e390c7ad 100644
--- a/peeringdb_server/management/commands/pdb_api_test.py
+++ b/peeringdb_server/management/commands/pdb_api_test.py
@@ -1106,6 +1106,16 @@ class TestJSON(unittest.TestCase):
                 "asn": 9999999
             }}, test_success=False)
 
+    ##########################################################################
+    def test_org_admin_002_POST_net_deleted(self):
+        data = self.make_data_net(asn=SHARED["net_rw_dupe_deleted"].asn)
+
+        with self.assertRaises(InvalidRequestException) as exc:
+            r_data = self.db_org_admin.create("net", data, return_response=True)
+
+        assert exc.exception.extra["asn"].find("Network has been deleted. Please contact") == 0
+
+
     ##########################################################################
 
     def test_org_admin_002_POST_PUT_DELETE_as_set(self):
diff --git a/peeringdb_server/serializers.py b/peeringdb_server/serializers.py
index 81a530fe..06a19f68 100644
--- a/peeringdb_server/serializers.py
+++ b/peeringdb_server/serializers.py
@@ -1385,6 +1385,14 @@ class NetworkSerializer(ModelSerializer):
         # this happens here so it is done before the validators run
         if "suggest" in data:
             data["org_id"] = settings.SUGGEST_ENTITY_ORG
+
+        # if an asn exists already but is currently deleted, fail
+        # with a specific error message indicating it (#288)
+
+        if Network.objects.filter(asn=data.get("asn"), status="deleted").exists():
+            errmsg = _("Network has been deleted. Please contact {}").format(settings.DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL)
+            raise RestValidationError({"asn":errmsg})
+
         return super(NetworkSerializer, self).to_internal_value(data)
 
     def has_create_perms(self, user, data):
@@ -1446,6 +1454,7 @@ class NetworkSerializer(ModelSerializer):
             ticket_queue_rdap_error(*rdap_error)
 
 
+
 class IXLanPrefixSerializer(ModelSerializer):
     """
     Serializer for peeringdb_server.models.IXLanPrefix