diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index de376cea193..2926afbc08c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ Do not use 20.x.x if you need IE support.
 - removed module `Mage_PageCache` [#2258](https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts/pull/2258)
 - removed lib/flex containing unused ActionScript "file uploader" files [#2271](https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts/pull/2271)
 - enabled website level config cache [#2355](https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts/pull/2355)
+- make overrides of Mage_Core_Model_Resource_Db_Abstract::delete respect parent api [#1257](https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts/pull/1257)
 
 For full list of changes, you can [compare tags](https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts/compare/1.9.4.x...20.0).
 
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Admin/Model/Resource/User.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Admin/Model/Resource/User.php
index 43a43f0a02a..c4fda8de925 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Admin/Model/Resource/User.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Admin/Model/Resource/User.php
@@ -189,7 +189,8 @@ protected function _afterLoad(Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $user)
      * Delete user role record with user
      *
      * @param Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $user
-     * @return bool
+     * @return $this
+     * @throws Exception
      */
     public function delete(Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $user)
     {
@@ -206,15 +207,12 @@ public function delete(Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $user)
             $adapter->delete($this->getMainTable(), $conditions);
             $adapter->delete($this->getTable('admin/role'), $conditions);
             $adapter->commit();
-        } catch (Mage_Core_Exception $e) {
+        } catch (Throwable $e) {
             $adapter->rollBack();
             throw $e;
-        } catch (Exception $e) {
-            $adapter->rollBack();
-            return false;
         }
         $this->_afterDelete($user);
-        return true;
+        return $this;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Api/Model/Resource/User.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Api/Model/Resource/User.php
index c39549046f8..b7d338ad36b 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Api/Model/Resource/User.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Api/Model/Resource/User.php
@@ -230,7 +230,8 @@ protected function _beforeSave(Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $user)
      * Delete the object
      *
      * @param Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $user
-     * @return boolean
+     * @return $this
+     * @throws Exception
      */
     public function delete(Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $user)
     {
@@ -241,14 +242,11 @@ public function delete(Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $user)
             $dbh->delete($this->getTable('api/user'), ['user_id = ?' => $uid]);
             $dbh->delete($this->getTable('api/role'), ['user_id = ?' => $uid]);
             $dbh->commit();
-        } catch (Mage_Core_Exception $e) {
+        } catch (Throwable $e) {
             $dbh->rollBack();
             throw $e;
-        } catch (Exception $e) {
-            $dbh->rollBack();
-            return false;
         }
-        return true;
+        return $this;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Resource/Db/Abstract.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Resource/Db/Abstract.php
index fe1412db17b..a00fb8f5bd4 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Resource/Db/Abstract.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Resource/Db/Abstract.php
@@ -509,6 +509,7 @@ public function forsedSave(Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $object)
      *
      * @param Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $object
      * @return $this
+     * @throws Exception
      */
     public function delete(Mage_Core_Model_Abstract $object)
     {