diff --git a/src/converse-message-view.js b/src/converse-message-view.js
index f32b54eb3..0cf74b722 100644
--- a/src/converse-message-view.js
+++ b/src/converse-message-view.js
@@ -242,19 +242,19 @@ converse.plugins.add('converse-message-view', {
                 const role = this.model.vcard ? this.model.vcard.get('role') : null;
                 const roles = role ? role.split(',') : [];
                 const is_retracted = this.model.get('retracted') || this.model.get('moderated') === 'retracted';
-                const is_groupchat_message = this.model.get('type') === 'groupchat';
+                const is_groupchat = this.model.get('type') === 'groupchat';
                 const is_own_message = this.model.get('sender') === 'me';
                 const chatbox = this.model.collection.chatbox;
-                const retractable= is_groupchat_message ? await chatbox.canRetractMessages() : is_own_message;
+                const retractable= !is_retracted && (is_groupchat? await chatbox.canRetractMessages() : is_own_message);
                 const msg = u.stringToElement(tpl_message(
                     Object.assign(
                         this.model.toJSON(), {
                          __,
-                        is_groupchat_message,
                         is_retracted,
                         retractable,
-                        'is_me_message': this.model.isMeCommand(),
                         'extra_classes': this.getExtraMessageClasses(),
+                        'is_groupchat_message': is_groupchat,
+                        'is_me_message': this.model.isMeCommand(),
                         'label_show': __('Show more'),
                         'occupant': this.model.occupant,
                         'pretty_time': time.format(_converse.time_format),