diff --git a/lib/promotion.rb b/lib/promotion.rb
index f18b4924c5d..7c22ede7c17 100644
--- a/lib/promotion.rb
+++ b/lib/promotion.rb
@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@ class Promotion
       TrustLevel.calculate(user, use_previous_trust_level: use_previous_trust_level) ||
         TrustLevel[0]
 
+    granted_trust_level = user.trust_level if granted_trust_level < user.trust_level &&
+      !can_downgrade_trust_level?(user)
+
     # TrustLevel.calculate always returns a value, however we added extra protection just
     # in case this changes
     user.update_column(:trust_level, TrustLevel[granted_trust_level])
@@ -153,4 +156,12 @@ class Promotion
       user.change_trust_level!(TrustLevel[2], log_action_for: performed_by || Discourse.system_user)
     end
   end
+
+  def self.can_downgrade_trust_level?(user)
+    return false if user.trust_level == TrustLevel[1] && tl1_met?(user)
+    return false if user.trust_level == TrustLevel[2] && tl2_met?(user)
+    return false if user.trust_level == TrustLevel[3] && tl3_met?(user)
+
+    true
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/group_user_spec.rb b/spec/models/group_user_spec.rb
index 58f5252532d..05014c38474 100644
--- a/spec/models/group_user_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/group_user_spec.rb
@@ -303,5 +303,27 @@ RSpec.describe GroupUser do
       # keep in mind that we do not restore tl3, cause reqs can be lost
       expect(user.reload.trust_level).to eq(2)
     end
+
+    it "protects user trust level if all requirements are met" do
+      Promotion.stubs(:tl2_met?).returns(true)
+
+      user = Fabricate(:user)
+      expect(user.trust_level).to eq(1)
+
+      group.update!(grant_trust_level: 1)
+
+      Promotion.recalculate(user)
+      expect(user.reload.trust_level).to eq(2)
+
+      group_user = Fabricate(:group_user, group: group, user: user)
+      expect_not_enqueued_with(
+        job: :send_system_message,
+        args: {
+          user_id: user.id,
+          message_type: "tl2_promotion_message",
+        },
+      ) { group_user.destroy! }
+      expect(user.reload.trust_level).to eq(2)
+    end
   end
 end