diff --git a/app/models/zone.rb b/app/models/zone.rb
index 36e94e4303c..bb663b71f7d 100644
--- a/app/models/zone.rb
+++ b/app/models/zone.rb
@@ -243,8 +243,8 @@ def ntp_reload_queue
 
   def message_for_invalid_delete
     return _("cannot delete default zone") if name == "default"
-    return _("cannot delete maintenance zone") if self == miq_region.maintenance_zone
-    return _("zone name '%{name}' is used by a server") % {:name => name} if miq_servers.present?
+    return _("cannot delete maintenance zone") if self == self.class.maintenance_zone
+    return _("zone name '%{name}' is used by a server") % {:name => name} if !MiqEnvironment::Command.is_podified? && miq_servers.present?
     _("zone name '%{name}' is used by a provider") % {:name => name} if ext_management_systems.present?
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/models/zone_spec.rb b/spec/models/zone_spec.rb
index 1acc716f11f..1f80a983099 100644
--- a/spec/models/zone_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/zone_spec.rb
@@ -291,4 +291,38 @@
       expect(MiqServer.find_by(:id => server.id)).to be_nil
     end
   end
+
+  describe "#message_for_invalid_delete" do
+    it "returns an error for the default zone" do
+      described_class.seed
+      message = described_class.default_zone.message_for_invalid_delete
+      expect(message).to eq("cannot delete default zone")
+    end
+
+    it "returns an error for the maintenance zone" do
+      described_class.seed
+      message = described_class.maintenance_zone.message_for_invalid_delete
+      expect(message).to eq("cannot delete maintenance zone")
+    end
+
+    it "returns an error when the zone has providers" do
+      zone = FactoryBot.create(:zone)
+      FactoryBot.create(:ext_management_system, :zone => zone)
+      message = zone.message_for_invalid_delete
+      expect(message).to eq("zone name '#{zone.name}' is used by a provider")
+    end
+
+    it "returns an error when the zone has servers and not running in pods" do
+      zone = FactoryBot.create(:miq_server).zone
+      message = zone.message_for_invalid_delete
+      expect(message).to eq("zone name '#{zone.name}' is used by a server")
+    end
+
+    it "does not return an error when the zone has a server and running in pods" do
+      allow(MiqEnvironment::Command).to receive(:is_podified?).and_return(true)
+      zone = FactoryBot.create(:miq_server).zone
+      message = zone.message_for_invalid_delete
+      expect(message).to be_nil
+    end
+  end
 end