diff --git a/zerver/lib/soft_deactivation.py b/zerver/lib/soft_deactivation.py
index a589ba0a5f..d958867879 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/soft_deactivation.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/soft_deactivation.py
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ def maybe_catch_up_soft_deactivated_user(user_profile: UserProfile) -> Union[Use
         RealmAuditLog.objects.create(
             realm=user_profile.realm,
             modified_user=user_profile,
-            event_type='user_soft_activated',
+            event_type=RealmAuditLog.USER_SOFT_ACTIVATED,
             event_time=timezone_now()
         )
         logger.info('Soft Reactivated user %s (%s)' %
diff --git a/zerver/models.py b/zerver/models.py
index 80ba8382f5..373a0a74d9 100644
--- a/zerver/models.py
+++ b/zerver/models.py
@@ -1965,6 +1965,7 @@ class RealmAuditLog(models.Model):
     USER_ACTIVATED = 'user_activated'
     USER_DEACTIVATED = 'user_deactivated'
     USER_REACTIVATED = 'user_reactivated'
+    USER_SOFT_ACTIVATED = 'user_soft_activated'
     USER_CHANGE_PASSWORD = 'user_change_password'
     USER_CHANGE_AVATAR_SOURCE = 'user_change_avatar_source'
     USER_FULL_NAME_CHANGED = 'user_full_name_changed'
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_messages.py b/zerver/tests/test_messages.py
index 0b4f059006..9e0b47bbbe 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_messages.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_messages.py
@@ -2913,7 +2913,7 @@ class SoftDeactivationMessageTest(ZulipTestCase):
         self.assert_length(queries, 7)
         self.assertFalse(long_term_idle_user.long_term_idle)
         self.assertEqual(last_realm_audit_log_entry(
-            'user_soft_activated').modified_user, long_term_idle_user)
+            RealmAuditLog.USER_SOFT_ACTIVATED).modified_user, long_term_idle_user)
         idle_user_msg_list = get_user_messages(long_term_idle_user)
         self.assertEqual(len(idle_user_msg_list), idle_user_msg_count + 1)
         self.assertEqual(idle_user_msg_list[-1].content, message)