diff --git a/mongoengine/queryset/base.py b/mongoengine/queryset/base.py
index 21d20dae..df628c35 100644
--- a/mongoengine/queryset/base.py
+++ b/mongoengine/queryset/base.py
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ class BaseQuerySet(object):
             return 0
         return self._cursor.count(with_limit_and_skip=with_limit_and_skip)
 
-    def delete(self, write_concern=None, _from_doc_delete=False):
+    def delete(self, write_concern=None, _from_doc_delete=False, cascade_refs=None):
         """Delete the documents matched by the query.
 
         :param write_concern: Extra keyword arguments are passed down which
@@ -363,6 +363,11 @@ class BaseQuerySet(object):
         queryset = self.clone()
         doc = queryset._document
 
+        cascade_refs = set() if cascade_refs is None else cascade_refs
+        if doc in cascade_refs:
+            return 0
+        cascade_refs.add(doc)
+
         if write_concern is None:
             write_concern = {}
 
@@ -405,7 +410,7 @@ class BaseQuerySet(object):
                 ref_q = document_cls.objects(**{field_name + '__in': self})
                 ref_q_count = ref_q.count()
                 if ref_q_count > 0:
-                    ref_q.delete(write_concern=write_concern)
+                    ref_q.delete(write_concern=write_concern, cascade_refs=cascade_refs)
             elif rule == NULLIFY:
                 document_cls.objects(**{field_name + '__in': self}).update(
                     write_concern=write_concern, **{'unset__%s' % field_name: 1})