diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 94f4490..3fa8798 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 var utils = require('./pouch-utils');
 var wrappers = require('pouchdb-wrappers');
 
-function isUntransformable(doc) {
+function isUntransformable(doc, config) {
   var isLocal = typeof doc._id === 'string' && utils.isLocalId(doc._id);
-  return isLocal || doc._deleted;
+  return isLocal || doc._deleted ? !config.handleDeleted : false;
 }
 
 // api.filter provided for backwards compat with the old "filter-pouch"
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ exports.transform = exports.filter = function transform(config) {
   var db = this;
 
   var incoming = function (doc) {
-    if (!isUntransformable(doc) && config.incoming) {
+    if (!isUntransformable(doc, config) && config.incoming) {
       return config.incoming(utils.clone(doc));
     }
     return doc;
   };
   var outgoing = function (doc) {
-    if (!isUntransformable(doc) && config.outgoing) {
+    if (!isUntransformable(doc, config) && config.outgoing) {
       return config.outgoing(utils.clone(doc));
     }
     return doc;
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index e80994a..0618d71 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -140,19 +140,43 @@ function tests(dbName, dbType) {
     });
 
     it('skips deleted docs', function () {
-      db.transform({
-        incoming: function (doc) {
-          doc.foo.baz = 'baz';
-          return doc;
-        }
+      var doc = {_id: 'foo', foo: {}};
+      return db.put(doc).then(function (res) {
+        doc._rev = res.rev;
+        return db.get('foo');
+      }).then(function (doc) {
+        var transformCalledOnDelete = false;
+        db.transform({
+          incoming: function (doc) {
+            transformCalledOnDelete = true;
+            return doc;
+          }
+        });
+
+        return db.remove(doc).then(function () {
+          transformCalledOnDelete.should.equal(false);
+        });
       });
+    });
+
+    it('transforms deleted docs if `handleDeleted: true` #18', function () {
       var doc = {_id: 'foo', foo: {}};
       return db.put(doc).then(function (res) {
         doc._rev = res.rev;
         return db.get('foo');
       }).then(function (doc) {
-        doc.foo.baz.should.equal('baz');
-        return db.remove(doc);
+        var transformCalledOnDelete = false;
+        db.transform({
+          incoming: function (doc) {
+            transformCalledOnDelete = true;
+            return doc;
+          },
+          handleDeleted: true
+        });
+
+        return db.remove(doc).then(function () {
+          transformCalledOnDelete.should.equal(true);
+        });
       });
     });