diff --git a/sourcing/templates/view.html b/sourcing/templates/view.html
index e47dd8e..a18e9d5 100644
--- a/sourcing/templates/view.html
+++ b/sourcing/templates/view.html
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
 {% block content %}
 
+{% set subject_count = doc.subjects.count() %}
+{% set can_delete = subject_count == 0 %}
+
 {% if current_user.is_authenticated and doc.user == current_user %}
 {% set title = doc.title_from_link() %}
 <div class="modal fade" id="title-modal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog">
@@ -32,6 +35,31 @@
     </div>
   </div>
 </div>
+
+{% if can_delete %}
+<div class="modal fade" id="delete-modal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog">
+  <div class="modal-dialog" role="document">
+    <div class="modal-content">
+      <div class="modal-header">
+        <h5 class="modal-title">delete</h5>
+        <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close">
+          <span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
+        </button>
+      </div>
+      <form method="POST" action="{{ doc.view_url('delete_item') }}">
+      <div class="modal-body">
+        are you sure?
+      </div>
+      <div class="modal-footer">
+        <button type="button" class="btn btn-secondary" data-dismiss="modal">Close</button>
+        <button type="submit" class="btn btn-danger">delete</button>
+      </div>
+      </form>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+{% endif %}
+
 {% endif %}
 
 {% if doc.type != 'sourcedoc' %}
@@ -64,6 +92,9 @@
 <h1 class="mt-3">{{ self.title() }}
   {% if current_user.is_authenticated and doc.user == current_user %}
     <button class="btn btn-primary"  data-toggle="modal" data-target="#title-modal">{{ 'edit' if title else 'add' }} title</button>
+  {% if can_delete %}
+    <button class="btn btn-danger"  data-toggle="modal" data-target="#delete-modal">delete item</button>
+  {% endif %}
   {% endif %}
 </h1>
 {% if version %}
@@ -132,7 +163,6 @@
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
   <h4>References</h4>
-  {% set subject_count = doc.subjects.count() %}
   {% if subject_count %}
     <p>There are {{ subject_count }} documents that refer to this {{ doc.type }}.</p>
     <ul>
diff --git a/sourcing/view.py b/sourcing/view.py
index ebfe9df..eb64a0b 100644
--- a/sourcing/view.py
+++ b/sourcing/view.py
@@ -250,6 +250,14 @@ def set_title(username, hashid):
     flash('title change saved' if has_title else 'title added')
     return redirect(item.url)
 
+@bp.route('/<username>/<hashid>/delete', methods=['POST'])
+def delete_item(username, hashid):
+    item = get_item(username, hashid)
+    session.delete(item)
+    session.commit()
+    flash('item deleted')
+    return redirect_to_home()
+
 @bp.route('/<username>/<hashid>')
 def view_item(username, hashid, raw=False):
     if ',' in hashid: