diff --git a/api/features/views.py b/api/features/views.py
index e4d25e761a59..43497af9698d 100644
--- a/api/features/views.py
+++ b/api/features/views.py
@@ -433,8 +433,8 @@ def remove_group_owners(self, request, *args, **kwargs):  # type: ignore[no-unty
         serializer.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
         self._validate_owner_removal(
             feature,
-            owners_to_remove=0,
-            group_owners_to_remove=len(serializer.validated_data["group_ids"]),
+            owner_ids=set(),
+            group_owner_ids=set(serializer.validated_data["group_ids"]),
         )
         serializer.remove_group_owners(feature)
         response = Response(self.get_serializer(instance=feature).data)
@@ -471,8 +471,8 @@ def remove_owners(self, request, *args, **kwargs):  # type: ignore[no-untyped-de
         feature = self.get_object()
         self._validate_owner_removal(
             feature,
-            owners_to_remove=len(serializer.validated_data["user_ids"]),
-            group_owners_to_remove=0,
+            owner_ids=set(serializer.validated_data["user_ids"]),
+            group_owner_ids=set(),
         )
         serializer.remove_users(feature)
 
@@ -481,18 +481,22 @@ def remove_owners(self, request, *args, **kwargs):  # type: ignore[no-untyped-de
     def _validate_owner_removal(
         self,
         feature: Feature,
-        owners_to_remove: int,
-        group_owners_to_remove: int,
+        owner_ids: set[int],
+        group_owner_ids: set[int],
     ) -> None:
         if not feature.project.enforce_feature_owners:
             return
-        remaining = (
-            feature.owners.count()
-            - owners_to_remove
-            + feature.group_owners.count()
-            - group_owners_to_remove
-        )
-        if remaining < 1:
+
+        existing_owners = feature.owners.all()
+        existing_group_owners = feature.group_owners.all()
+
+        existing_owner_ids = {owner.id for owner in existing_owners}
+        existing_group_owner_ids = {group.id for group in existing_group_owners}
+
+        if not (
+            (existing_owner_ids - owner_ids)
+            or (existing_group_owner_ids - group_owner_ids)
+        ):
             raise serializers.ValidationError(
                 "This project requires at least one owner or group owner per feature."
             )
diff --git a/api/tests/unit/features/test_unit_features_views.py b/api/tests/unit/features/test_unit_features_views.py
index 26b85fdbdc5d..cd2c981171b8 100644
--- a/api/tests/unit/features/test_unit_features_views.py
+++ b/api/tests/unit/features/test_unit_features_views.py
@@ -5346,3 +5346,61 @@ def test_remove_group_owners__enforce_owners_user_owners_remain__returns_200(
     feature.refresh_from_db()
     assert group not in feature.group_owners.all()
     assert admin_user in feature.owners.all()
+
+
+def test_remove_owners__enforce_owners_with_nonexistent_user_ids__still_blocks_when_needed(
+    admin_client_new: APIClient,
+    project: Project,
+    feature: Feature,
+    admin_user: FFAdminUser,
+) -> None:
+    # Given
+    project.enforce_feature_owners = True
+    project.save()
+    non_owner = FFAdminUser.objects.create_user(email="nonowner@example.com")  # type: ignore[no-untyped-call]
+    feature.owners.add(admin_user)
+
+    # When
+    response = admin_client_new.post(
+        f"/api/v1/projects/{project.id}/features/{feature.id}/remove-owners/",
+        data={"user_ids": [admin_user.id, non_owner.id]},
+        format="json",
+    )
+
+    # Then
+    assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST
+    feature.refresh_from_db()
+    assert admin_user in feature.owners.all()
+
+
+def test_remove_group_owners__enforce_owners_with_nonexistent_group_ids__allows_when_real_owner_remains(
+    admin_client_new: APIClient,
+    project: Project,
+    feature: Feature,
+    admin_user: FFAdminUser,
+    organisation: Organisation,
+) -> None:
+    # Given
+    project.enforce_feature_owners = True
+    project.save()
+    group = UserPermissionGroup.objects.create(
+        name="Test Group", organisation=organisation
+    )
+    non_owner_group = UserPermissionGroup.objects.create(
+        name="Non Owner Group", organisation=organisation
+    )
+    feature.owners.add(admin_user)
+    feature.group_owners.add(group)
+
+    # When
+    response = admin_client_new.post(
+        f"/api/v1/projects/{project.id}/features/{feature.id}/remove-group-owners/",
+        data={"group_ids": [group.id, non_owner_group.id]},
+        format="json",
+    )
+
+    # Then
+    assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+    feature.refresh_from_db()
+    assert group not in feature.group_owners.all()
+    assert admin_user in feature.owners.all()