diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/download/DownloadManager.kt b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/download/DownloadManager.kt
index 574221e68..9c01afa1b 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/download/DownloadManager.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/download/DownloadManager.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import android.content.Context
 import com.hippo.unifile.UniFile
 import com.jakewharton.rxrelay.BehaviorRelay
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.R
+import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.data.database.DatabaseHelper
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.data.database.models.Chapter
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.data.database.models.Manga
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.data.download.model.Download
@@ -15,6 +16,8 @@ import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.source.model.Page
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.util.lang.launchIO
 import rx.Observable
 import timber.log.Timber
+import uy.kohesive.injekt.Injekt
+import uy.kohesive.injekt.api.get
 import uy.kohesive.injekt.injectLazy
 
 /**
@@ -24,7 +27,10 @@ import uy.kohesive.injekt.injectLazy
  *
  * @param context the application context.
  */
-class DownloadManager(private val context: Context) {
+class DownloadManager(
+    private val context: Context,
+    private val db: DatabaseHelper = Injekt.get()
+) {
 
     private val sourceManager: SourceManager by injectLazy()
     private val preferences: PreferencesHelper by injectLazy()
@@ -241,7 +247,7 @@ class DownloadManager(private val context: Context) {
         val filteredChapters = if (isCancelling) {
             chapters
         } else {
-            getChaptersToDelete(chapters)
+            getChaptersToDelete(chapters, manga)
         }
 
         launchIO {
@@ -296,7 +302,7 @@ class DownloadManager(private val context: Context) {
      * @param manga the manga of the chapters.
      */
     fun enqueueDeleteChapters(chapters: List<Chapter>, manga: Manga) {
-        pendingDeleter.addChapters(getChaptersToDelete(chapters), manga)
+        pendingDeleter.addChapters(getChaptersToDelete(chapters, manga), manga)
     }
 
     /**
@@ -336,8 +342,19 @@ class DownloadManager(private val context: Context) {
         }
     }
 
-    private fun getChaptersToDelete(chapters: List<Chapter>): List<Chapter> {
-        return if (!preferences.removeBookmarkedChapters()) {
+    private fun getChaptersToDelete(chapters: List<Chapter>, manga: Manga): List<Chapter> {
+        // Retrieve the categories that are set to exclude from being deleted on read
+        val categoriesToExclude = preferences.removeExcludeCategories().get().map(String::toInt)
+        val categoriesForManga =
+            manga.let { it ->
+                db.getCategoriesForManga(it).executeAsBlocking()
+                    .mapNotNull { it.id }
+                    .takeUnless { it.isEmpty() }
+            } ?: listOf(0)
+
+        return if (categoriesForManga.intersect(categoriesToExclude).isNotEmpty()) {
+            chapters.filterNot { it.read }
+        } else if (!preferences.removeBookmarkedChapters()) {
             chapters.filterNot { it.bookmark }
         } else {
             chapters
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/preference/PreferenceKeys.kt b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/preference/PreferenceKeys.kt
index 9a4784caa..02ddf2fab 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/preference/PreferenceKeys.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/preference/PreferenceKeys.kt
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ object PreferenceKeys {
 
     const val downloadNewCategories = "download_new_categories"
     const val downloadNewCategoriesExclude = "download_new_categories_exclude"
+    const val removeExcludeCategories = "remove_exclude_categories"
 
     const val libraryDisplayMode = "pref_display_mode_library"
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/preference/PreferencesHelper.kt b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/preference/PreferencesHelper.kt
index 9a77030f8..ffb26b7be 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/preference/PreferencesHelper.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/data/preference/PreferencesHelper.kt
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@ class PreferencesHelper(val context: Context) {
 
     fun removeBookmarkedChapters() = prefs.getBoolean(Keys.removeBookmarkedChapters, false)
 
+    fun removeExcludeCategories() = flowPrefs.getStringSet(Keys.removeExcludeCategories, emptySet())
+
     fun libraryUpdateInterval() = flowPrefs.getInt(Keys.libraryUpdateInterval, 24)
 
     fun libraryUpdateRestriction() = flowPrefs.getStringSet(Keys.libraryUpdateRestriction, setOf(UNMETERED_NETWORK))
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/reader/ReaderPresenter.kt b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/reader/ReaderPresenter.kt
index 91f1c673c..07b37c5e3 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/reader/ReaderPresenter.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/reader/ReaderPresenter.kt
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@ class ReaderPresenter(
         val currentChapterPosition = chapterList.indexOf(currentChapter)
         val removeAfterReadSlots = preferences.removeAfterReadSlots()
         val chapterToDelete = chapterList.getOrNull(currentChapterPosition - removeAfterReadSlots)
+
         // Check if deleting option is enabled and chapter exists
         if (removeAfterReadSlots != -1 && chapterToDelete != null) {
             enqueueDeleteReadChapters(chapterToDelete)
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/setting/SettingsDownloadController.kt b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/setting/SettingsDownloadController.kt
index c9a367b63..03df452ef 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/setting/SettingsDownloadController.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/setting/SettingsDownloadController.kt
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.ui.base.controller.DialogController
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.util.preference.defaultValue
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.util.preference.entriesRes
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.util.preference.intListPreference
+import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.util.preference.multiSelectListPreference
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.util.preference.onClick
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.util.preference.preference
 import eu.kanade.tachiyomi.util.preference.preferenceCategory
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ class SettingsDownloadController : SettingsController() {
     override fun setupPreferenceScreen(screen: PreferenceScreen) = screen.apply {
         titleRes = R.string.pref_category_downloads
 
+        val dbCategories = db.getCategories().executeAsBlocking()
+        val categories = listOf(Category.createDefault(context)) + dbCategories
+
         preference {
             key = Keys.downloadsDirectory
             titleRes = R.string.pref_download_directory
@@ -93,10 +97,26 @@ class SettingsDownloadController : SettingsController() {
                 titleRes = R.string.pref_remove_bookmarked_chapters
                 defaultValue = false
             }
-        }
+            multiSelectListPreference {
+                key = Keys.removeExcludeCategories
+                titleRes = R.string.pref_remove_exclude_categories
+                entries = categories.map { it.name }.toTypedArray()
+                entryValues = categories.map { it.id.toString() }.toTypedArray()
 
-        val dbCategories = db.getCategories().executeAsBlocking()
-        val categories = listOf(Category.createDefault(context)) + dbCategories
+                preferences.removeExcludeCategories().asFlow()
+                    .onEach { mutable ->
+                        val selected = mutable
+                            .mapNotNull { id -> categories.find { it.id == id.toInt() } }
+                            .sortedBy { it.order }
+
+                        summary = if (selected.isEmpty()) {
+                            resources?.getString(R.string.none)
+                        } else {
+                            selected.joinToString { it.name }
+                        }
+                    }.launchIn(viewScope)
+            }
+        }
 
         preferenceCategory {
             titleRes = R.string.pref_category_auto_download
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 8f947d868..59b574167 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -382,6 +382,7 @@
     <string name="pref_remove_after_marked_as_read">After marked as read</string>
     <string name="pref_remove_after_read">Automatically after reading</string>
     <string name="pref_remove_bookmarked_chapters">Allow deleting bookmarked chapters</string>
+    <string name="pref_remove_exclude_categories">Categories to exclude in deleting</string>
     <string name="custom_dir">Custom location</string>
     <string name="disabled">Disabled</string>
     <string name="last_read_chapter">Last read chapter</string>