diff --git a/crudkit/dsl.py b/crudkit/dsl.py
index 552f850..80c5499 100644
--- a/crudkit/dsl.py
+++ b/crudkit/dsl.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import List, Dict, Any, Optional
-from sqlalchemy import asc, desc, select, func
-from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload, joinedload, Load
+from sqlalchemy import asc, desc, select, false()
 
 @dataclass
 class QuerySpec:
@@ -25,7 +24,17 @@ FILTER_OPS = {
 }
 
 def build_query(Model, spec: QuerySpec, eager_policy=None):
-    stmt = select(Model).where(Model.deleted.is_(False))
+    stmt = select(Model)
+
+    # filter out soft-deleted rows
+    deleted_attr = getattr(Model, "deleted", None)
+    if deleted_attr is not None:
+        stmt = stmt.where(deleted_attr == false())
+    else:
+        is_deleted_attr = getattr(Model, "is_deleted", None)
+        if is_deleted_attr is not None:
+            stmt = stmt.where(is_deleted_attr == false())
+
     # filters
     for raw_key, val in spec.filters.items():
         for op in FILTER_OPS: