diff --git a/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_muc_breakout_rooms.lua b/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_muc_breakout_rooms.lua
index b3557c66d618..3f79ed576683 100644
--- a/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_muc_breakout_rooms.lua
+++ b/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_muc_breakout_rooms.lua
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
 --     muc_room_locking = false
 --     muc_room_default_public_jids = true
 --
+
+module:depends('room_destroy');
+
 -- we use async to detect Prosody 0.10 and earlier
 local have_async = pcall(require, 'util.async');
 
@@ -427,14 +430,39 @@ function on_occupant_left(event)
             -- and we will have the old instance
             local main_room, main_room_jid = get_main_room(room_jid);
             if main_room and main_room.close_timer then
-                module:log('info', 'Closing conference %s as all left for good.', main_room_jid);
-                main_room:set_persistent(false);
-                main_room:destroy(nil, 'All occupants left.');
+                prosody.events.fire_event("maybe-destroy-room", {
+                    room = main_room;
+                    reason = 'All occupants left.';
+                    caller = module:get_name();
+                });
             end
         end);
     end
 end
 
+-- Stop other modules from destroying room if breakout rooms not empty
+function handle_maybe_destroy_main_room(event)
+    local main_room = event.room;
+    local caller = event.caller;
+
+    if caller == module:get_name() then
+        -- we were the one that requested the deletion. Do not override.
+        return nil; -- stop room destruction
+    end
+
+    -- deletion was requested by another module. Check for break room occupants.
+    for breakout_room_jid, _ in pairs(main_room._data.breakout_rooms or {}) do
+        local breakout_room = breakout_rooms_muc_service.get_room_from_jid(breakout_room_jid);
+        if breakout_room and breakout_room:has_occupant() then
+            module:log('info', 'Suppressing room destroy. Breakout room still occupied %s', breakout_room_jid);
+            return true; -- stop room destruction
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+module:hook_global("maybe-destroy-room", handle_maybe_destroy_main_room)
+
+
 function on_main_room_destroyed(event)
     local main_room = event.room;
 
diff --git a/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_persistent_lobby.lua b/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_persistent_lobby.lua
index 2ebfaa48b275..2f4e30c399af 100644
--- a/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_persistent_lobby.lua
+++ b/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_persistent_lobby.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 -- To trigger creation of lobby room:
 --  prosody.events.fire_event("create-persistent-lobby-room", { room = room; });
 --
+module:depends('room_destroy');
 
 local util = module:require "util";
 local is_healthcheck_room = util.is_healthcheck_room;
@@ -86,8 +87,11 @@ end
 
 -- Helper method to trigger main room destroy
 local function trigger_room_destroy(room)
-    room:set_persistent(false);
-    room:destroy(nil, 'main room and lobby now empty');
+    prosody.events.fire_event("maybe-destroy-room", {
+        room = room;
+        reason = 'main room and lobby now empty';
+        caller = module:get_name();
+    });
 end
 
 
@@ -170,3 +174,26 @@ end
 
 module:hook_global('create-persistent-lobby-room', handle_create_persistent_lobby);
 
+
+-- Stop other modules from destroying room if persistent lobby not empty
+function handle_maybe_destroy_main_room(event)
+    local main_room = event.room;
+    local caller = event.caller;
+
+    if caller == module:get_name() then
+        -- we were the one that requested the deletion. Do not override.
+        return nil;
+    end
+
+    -- deletion was requested by another module. Check for lobby occupants.
+    if has_persistent_lobby(main_room) and main_room._data.lobbyroom then
+        local lobby_room_jid = main_room._data.lobbyroom;
+        local lobby_room = lobby_muc_service.get_room_from_jid(lobby_room_jid);
+        if lobby_room and lobby_room:has_occupant() then
+            module:log('info', 'Suppressing room destroy. Persistent lobby still occupied %s', lobby_room_jid);
+            return true;  -- stop room destruction
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+module:hook_global("maybe-destroy-room", handle_maybe_destroy_main_room);
diff --git a/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_room_destroy.lua b/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_room_destroy.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d3dfb3b961be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/prosody-plugins/mod_room_destroy.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+-- Handle room destroy requests it such a way that it can be suppressed by other
+-- modules that handle room lifecycle and wish to keep the room alive.
+
+function handle_room_destroy(event)
+    local room = event.room;
+    local reason = event.reason;
+    local caller = event.caller;
+
+    module:log('info', 'Destroying room %s (requested by %s)', room.jid, caller);
+    room:set_persistent(false);
+    room:destroy(nil, reason);
+end
+
+module:hook_global("maybe-destroy-room", handle_room_destroy, -1);
+module:log('info', 'loaded');