diff --git a/zerver/lib/actions.py b/zerver/lib/actions.py
index 9d567d9ab3..f736449801 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/actions.py
@@ -2695,7 +2695,7 @@ def bulk_remove_subscriptions(users: Iterable[UserProfile],
                                                    modified_user=sub.user_profile,
                                                    modified_stream=stream,
                                                    event_last_message_id=event_last_message_id,
-                                                   event_type='subscription_deactivated',
+                                                   event_type=RealmAuditLog.SUBSCRIPTION_DEACTIVATED,
                                                    event_time=event_time))
     # Now since we have all log objects generated we can do a bulk insert
     RealmAuditLog.objects.bulk_create(all_subscription_logs)
diff --git a/zerver/lib/soft_deactivation.py b/zerver/lib/soft_deactivation.py
index 7da4561576..670e310b8d 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/soft_deactivation.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/soft_deactivation.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def filter_by_subscription_history(user_profile: UserProfile,
         for log_entry in stream_subscription_logs:
             if len(stream_messages) == 0:
                 continue
-            if log_entry.event_type == 'subscription_deactivated':
+            if log_entry.event_type == RealmAuditLog.SUBSCRIPTION_DEACTIVATED:
                 for stream_message in stream_messages:
                     if stream_message['id'] <= log_entry.event_last_message_id:
                         store_user_message_to_insert(stream_message)
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def add_missing_messages(user_profile: UserProfile) -> None:
     # For Stream messages we need to check messages against data from
     # RealmAuditLog for visibility to user. So we fetch the subscription logs.
     stream_ids = [sub['recipient__type_id'] for sub in all_stream_subs]
-    events = [RealmAuditLog.SUBSCRIPTION_CREATED, 'subscription_deactivated', 'subscription_activated']
+    events = [RealmAuditLog.SUBSCRIPTION_CREATED, RealmAuditLog.SUBSCRIPTION_DEACTIVATED, 'subscription_activated']
     subscription_logs = list(RealmAuditLog.objects.select_related(
         'modified_stream').filter(
         modified_user=user_profile,
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def add_missing_messages(user_profile: UserProfile) -> None:
     recipient_ids = []
     for sub in all_stream_subs:
         stream_subscription_logs = all_stream_subscription_logs[sub['recipient__type_id']]
-        if stream_subscription_logs[-1].event_type == 'subscription_deactivated':
+        if stream_subscription_logs[-1].event_type == RealmAuditLog.SUBSCRIPTION_DEACTIVATED:
             assert stream_subscription_logs[-1].event_last_message_id is not None
             if stream_subscription_logs[-1].event_last_message_id <= user_profile.last_active_message_id:
                 # We are going to short circuit this iteration as its no use
diff --git a/zerver/models.py b/zerver/models.py
index 02ed82c500..a6de64478d 100644
--- a/zerver/models.py
+++ b/zerver/models.py
@@ -1978,6 +1978,7 @@ class RealmAuditLog(models.Model):
 
     BOT_OWNER_CHANGED = 'bot_owner_changed'
     SUBSCRIPTION_CREATED = 'subscription_created'
+    SUBSCRIPTION_DEACTIVATED = 'subscription_deactivated'
 
     event_type = models.CharField(max_length=40)  # type: str
 
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_audit_log.py b/zerver/tests/test_audit_log.py
index f7f31fe8af..3dcedfc0a8 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_audit_log.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_audit_log.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class TestRealmAuditLog(ZulipTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(subscription_creation_logs[0].modified_user, user[0])
 
         bulk_remove_subscriptions(user, stream)
-        subscription_deactivation_logs = RealmAuditLog.objects.filter(event_type='subscription_deactivated',
+        subscription_deactivation_logs = RealmAuditLog.objects.filter(event_type=RealmAuditLog.SUBSCRIPTION_DEACTIVATED,
                                                                       event_time__gte=now)
         self.assertEqual(subscription_deactivation_logs.count(), 1)
         self.assertEqual(subscription_deactivation_logs[0].modified_stream.id, stream[0].id)