diff --git a/stellarisdashboard/datamodel.py b/stellarisdashboard/datamodel.py
index d049a9b..28ffa77 100644
--- a/stellarisdashboard/datamodel.py
+++ b/stellarisdashboard/datamodel.py
@@ -1462,7 +1462,7 @@ class Leader(Base):
 
     leader_id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
     game_id = Column(ForeignKey(Game.game_id))
-    country_id = Column(ForeignKey(Country.country_id))
+    country_id = Column(ForeignKey(Country.country_id), nullable=True)
     leader_id_in_game = Column(Integer, index=True)
 
     first_name = Column(String(80))
diff --git a/stellarisdashboard/parsing/timeline.py b/stellarisdashboard/parsing/timeline.py
index fc9fc56..4b6e8c0 100644
--- a/stellarisdashboard/parsing/timeline.py
+++ b/stellarisdashboard/parsing/timeline.py
@@ -1334,8 +1334,15 @@ def _update_leader_attributes(self, country: datamodel.Country, leader: datamode
             leader.gender = leader_gender
             leader.species = leader_species
             leader.leader_traits = leader_traits
-            leader.country = country
             leader.ethic = ethic
+
+            # apparently, setting leader.country = None deletes the entire leader from the DB
+            # but setting leader.country_id = None is fine
+            if country is None:
+                leader.country_id = None
+            else:
+                leader.country = country
+
             self._session.add(leader)
 
     def _get_leader_traits(self, leader_dict) -> (str, str):