diff --git a/importarr/main.py b/importarr/main.py
index 10e3ef2..66c7c75 100644
--- a/importarr/main.py
+++ b/importarr/main.py
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ async def sync_queue() -> None:
         state.upsert_queue_item(source_type="system", source_id="sab-sync", name="SABnzbd", state="failed", reason=exc.__class__.__name__)
         return
     slots = data.get("history", {}).get("slots", [])
+    state.delete_queue_items_by_state("sab", "ignored", "SAB category is not owned by Importarr")
     for item in slots:
         readiness = classify_history_item(item, active, settings.sab_category, settings.download_root)
         job_id = str(item.get("nzo_id") or item.get("nzoid") or item.get("name") or "")
diff --git a/importarr/state.py b/importarr/state.py
index f6f598f..fa152d4 100644
--- a/importarr/state.py
+++ b/importarr/state.py
@@ -146,6 +146,14 @@ class State:
         self.conn.commit()
         return cursor.rowcount > 0
 
+    def delete_queue_items_by_state(self, source_type: str, state: str, reason: str | None = None) -> int:
+        if reason is None:
+            cursor = self.conn.execute("delete from import_queue_items where source_type = ? and state = ?", (source_type, state))
+        else:
+            cursor = self.conn.execute("delete from import_queue_items where source_type = ? and state = ? and reason = ?", (source_type, state, reason))
+        self.conn.commit()
+        return cursor.rowcount
+
     def get_queue_item(self, item_id: int) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
         row = self.conn.execute("select * from import_queue_items where id = ?", (item_id,)).fetchone()
         return dict(row) if row else None
diff --git a/tests/test_state.py b/tests/test_state.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e13e62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_state.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from importarr.state import State
+
+
+def test_delete_queue_items_by_state_can_target_reason(tmp_path):
+    state = State(tmp_path / "state.db")
+    state.upsert_queue_item(source_type="sab", source_id="stale", name="Stale", state="ignored", reason="SAB category is not owned by Importarr")
+    state.upsert_queue_item(source_type="sab", source_id="other", name="Other", state="ignored", reason="other reason")
+
+    assert state.delete_queue_items_by_state("sab", "ignored", "SAB category is not owned by Importarr") == 1
+
+    rows = state.list_queue_items()
+    assert len(rows) == 1
+    assert rows[0]["source_id"] == "other"