diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/project/qgsproject.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/project/qgsproject.sip.in
index 6824d76674b..81d1054e3d2 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/project/qgsproject.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/project/qgsproject.sip.in
@@ -1273,6 +1273,11 @@ Attaches a file to the project
 
 :return: The path to the file where the contents can be written to.
 
+.. note::
+
+   If the attachment file is used as a source for a project layer, the attachment will be removed
+   automatically when the layer is deleted.
+
 .. versionadded:: 3.22
 %End
 
diff --git a/src/core/project/qgsproject.h b/src/core/project/qgsproject.h
index e6400a4ee3a..0271069fd7b 100644
--- a/src/core/project/qgsproject.h
+++ b/src/core/project/qgsproject.h
@@ -1341,6 +1341,8 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProject : public QObject, public QgsExpressionContextGenera
      * Attaches a file to the project
      * \param nameTemplate Any filename template, used as a basename for attachment file, i.e. "myfile.ext"
      * \return The path to the file where the contents can be written to.
+     * \note If the attachment file is used as a source for a project layer, the attachment will be removed
+     * automatically when the layer is deleted.
      * \since QGIS 3.22
      */
     QString createAttachedFile( const QString &nameTemplate );
diff --git a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.cpp b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.cpp
index e0cf74fb807..56cd38d3c4d 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.cpp
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ QgsMapLayer::QgsMapLayer( QgsMapLayerType type,
 
 QgsMapLayer::~QgsMapLayer()
 {
+  if ( project() && project()->pathResolver().writePath( mDataSource ).startsWith( "attachment:" ) )
+  {
+    project()->removeAttachedFile( mDataSource );
+  }
+
   delete m3DRenderer;
   delete mLegend;
   delete mStyleManager;
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsproject.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsproject.cpp
index 051cb58915c..b27d2575aaf 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsproject.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsproject.cpp
@@ -812,6 +812,13 @@ void TestQgsProject::testAttachmentsQgs()
     QVERIFY( p2.attachedFiles().size() == 1 );
     QVERIFY( p2.mapLayers().size() == 1 );
     QVERIFY( p2.mapLayer( p2.mapLayers().firstKey() )->source() == p2.attachedFiles().first() );
+
+    // Verify that attachment file is removed when layer is deleted
+    QgsMapLayer *p2layer = p2.mapLayer( p2.mapLayers().firstKey() );
+    QString path = p2layer->source();
+    QVERIFY( QFile( path ).exists() );
+    p2.removeMapLayer( p2layer->id() );
+    QVERIFY( !QFile( path ).exists() );
   }
 
 }
@@ -882,6 +889,13 @@ void TestQgsProject::testAttachmentsQgz()
     QVERIFY( p2.attachedFiles().size() == 1 );
     QVERIFY( p2.mapLayers().size() == 1 );
     QVERIFY( p2.mapLayer( p2.mapLayers().firstKey() )->source() == p2.attachedFiles().first() );
+
+    // Verify that attachment file is removed when layer is deleted
+    QgsMapLayer *p2layer = p2.mapLayer( p2.mapLayers().firstKey() );
+    QString path = p2layer->source();
+    QVERIFY( QFile( path ).exists() );
+    p2.removeMapLayer( p2layer->id() );
+    QVERIFY( !QFile( path ).exists() );
   }
 
 }