diff --git a/pkg/services/folder/folderimpl/folder_unifiedstorage.go b/pkg/services/folder/folderimpl/folder_unifiedstorage.go
index 92bb8e7180e..18202327590 100644
--- a/pkg/services/folder/folderimpl/folder_unifiedstorage.go
+++ b/pkg/services/folder/folderimpl/folder_unifiedstorage.go
@@ -637,10 +637,12 @@ func (s *Service) deleteFromApiServer(ctx context.Context, cmd *folder.DeleteFol
 		return err
 	}
 
-	folders := []string{cmd.UID}
+	folders := []string{}
 	for _, f := range descFolders {
 		folders = append(folders, f.UID)
 	}
+	// must delete children first, then the parent folder
+	folders = append(folders, cmd.UID)
 
 	if cmd.ForceDeleteRules {
 		if err := s.deleteChildrenInFolder(ctx, cmd.OrgID, folders, cmd.SignedInUser); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/services/folder/folderimpl/folder_unifiedstorage_test.go b/pkg/services/folder/folderimpl/folder_unifiedstorage_test.go
index 6ed300d80f5..244f11043f8 100644
--- a/pkg/services/folder/folderimpl/folder_unifiedstorage_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/folder/folderimpl/folder_unifiedstorage_test.go
@@ -825,7 +825,7 @@ func TestDeleteFoldersFromApiServer(t *testing.T) {
 					{
 						Key:      resource.SEARCH_FIELD_FOLDER,
 						Operator: string(selection.In),
-						Values:   []string{"uid", "uid2"},
+						Values:   []string{"uid2", "uid"},
 					},
 				},
 			},