diff --git a/proxywatchd.py b/proxywatchd.py
index 4ef16e8..7dc387d 100644
--- a/proxywatchd.py
+++ b/proxywatchd.py
@@ -1648,9 +1648,20 @@ class Proxywatchd():
                              for job in self.collected
                              if job.failcount == 0 and job.exit_ip]
 
+        # Separate dead proxies for deletion
+        dead_proxies = [a[-1] for a in args if a[0] == DEAD_PROXY or a[0] >= max_fail]
+        live_args = [a for a in args if a[0] != DEAD_PROXY and a[0] < max_fail]
+
         with self._db_context() as db:
             query = 'UPDATE proxylist SET failed=?,tested=?,dronebl=?,country=?,proto=?,success_count=?,total_duration=?,mitm=?,consecutive_success=?,asn=?,protos_working=?,last_check=?,last_target=? WHERE proxy=?'
-            db.executemany(query, args)
+            if live_args:
+                db.executemany(query, live_args)
+
+            # Delete proxies that reached max_fail
+            if dead_proxies:
+                db.executemany('DELETE FROM proxylist WHERE proxy=?',
+                               [(p,) for p in dead_proxies])
+                _log('deleted %d dead proxies' % len(dead_proxies), 'watchd')
 
             # Batch update latency metrics for successful proxies
             if latency_updates: