diff --git a/metadata/db.go b/metadata/db.go
index 8241930a9..a187439ce 100644
--- a/metadata/db.go
+++ b/metadata/db.go
@@ -325,6 +325,8 @@ func (m *DB) publishEvents(events []namespacedEvent) {
 			ctx := namespaces.WithNamespace(ctx, ne.namespace)
 			var topic string
 			switch ne.event.(type) {
+			case *eventstypes.ImageDelete:
+				topic = "/images/delete"
 			case *eventstypes.SnapshotRemove:
 				topic = "/snapshot/remove"
 			default:
diff --git a/metadata/gc.go b/metadata/gc.go
index 786402f54..855bcab51 100644
--- a/metadata/gc.go
+++ b/metadata/gc.go
@@ -711,7 +711,9 @@ func (c *gcContext) remove(ctx context.Context, tx *bolt.Tx, node gc.Node) (inte
 	case ResourceImage:
 		ibkt := nsbkt.Bucket(bucketKeyObjectImages)
 		if ibkt != nil {
-			return nil, ibkt.DeleteBucket([]byte(node.Key))
+			return &eventstypes.ImageDelete{
+				Name: node.Key,
+			}, ibkt.DeleteBucket([]byte(node.Key))
 		}
 	case ResourceLease:
 		lbkt := nsbkt.Bucket(bucketKeyObjectLeases)