diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/plugs/user_is_staff_plug.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/plugs/user_is_staff_plug.ex
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..49c2d9cca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/plugs/user_is_staff_plug.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2021 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Pleroma.Web.Plugs.UserIsStaffPlug do
+  import Pleroma.Web.TranslationHelpers
+  import Plug.Conn
+
+  alias Pleroma.User
+
+  def init(options) do
+    options
+  end
+
+  def call(%{assigns: %{user: %User{is_admin: true}}} = conn, _), do: conn
+  def call(%{assigns: %{user: %User{is_moderator: true}}} = conn, _), do: conn
+
+  def call(conn, _) do
+    conn
+    |> render_error(:forbidden, "User is not a staff member.")
+    |> halt()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex
index efca7078a..74ee23c06 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex
@@ -96,10 +96,14 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
     plug(Pleroma.Web.Plugs.AdminSecretAuthenticationPlug)
     plug(:after_auth)
     plug(Pleroma.Web.Plugs.EnsureAuthenticatedPlug)
-    plug(Pleroma.Web.Plugs.UserIsAdminPlug)
+    plug(Pleroma.Web.Plugs.UserIsStaffPlug)
     plug(Pleroma.Web.Plugs.IdempotencyPlug)
   end
 
+  pipeline :require_admin do
+    plug(Pleroma.Web.Plugs.UserIsAdminPlug)
+  end
+
   pipeline :mastodon_html do
     plug(:browser)
     plug(:authenticate)
@@ -160,7 +164,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
   end
 
   scope "/api/v1/pleroma/admin", Pleroma.Web.AdminAPI do
-    pipe_through(:admin_api)
+    pipe_through([:admin_api, :require_admin])
 
     put("/users/disable_mfa", AdminAPIController, :disable_mfa)
     put("/users/tag", AdminAPIController, :tag_users)
@@ -265,7 +269,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
 
   scope "/api/v1/pleroma/emoji", Pleroma.Web.PleromaAPI do
     scope "/pack" do
-      pipe_through(:admin_api)
+      pipe_through([:admin_api, :require_admin])
 
       post("/", EmojiPackController, :create)
       patch("/", EmojiPackController, :update)
@@ -280,7 +284,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
 
     # Modifying packs
     scope "/packs" do
-      pipe_through(:admin_api)
+      pipe_through([:admin_api, :require_admin])
 
       get("/import", EmojiPackController, :import_from_filesystem)
       get("/remote", EmojiPackController, :remote)
diff --git a/test/pleroma/web/admin_api/controllers/report_controller_test.exs b/test/pleroma/web/admin_api/controllers/report_controller_test.exs
index 6a2986b5f..8102845d5 100644
--- a/test/pleroma/web/admin_api/controllers/report_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/pleroma/web/admin_api/controllers/report_controller_test.exs
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ test "returns 403 when requested by a non-admin" do
         |> get("/api/pleroma/admin/reports")
 
       assert json_response(conn, :forbidden) ==
-               %{"error" => "User is not an admin."}
+               %{"error" => "User is not a staff member."}
     end
 
     test "returns 403 when requested by anonymous" do
diff --git a/test/pleroma/web/plugs/user_is_staff_plug_test.exs b/test/pleroma/web/plugs/user_is_staff_plug_test.exs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a0c4061db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/pleroma/web/plugs/user_is_staff_plug_test.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2021 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Pleroma.Web.Plugs.UserIsStaffPlugTest do
+  use Pleroma.Web.ConnCase, async: true
+
+  alias Pleroma.Web.Plugs.UserIsStaffPlug
+  import Pleroma.Factory
+
+  test "accepts a user that is an admin" do
+    user = insert(:user, is_admin: true)
+
+    conn = assign(build_conn(), :user, user)
+
+    ret_conn = UserIsStaffPlug.call(conn, %{})
+
+    assert conn == ret_conn
+  end
+
+  test "accepts a user that is a moderator" do
+    user = insert(:user, is_moderator: true)
+
+    conn = assign(build_conn(), :user, user)
+
+    ret_conn = UserIsStaffPlug.call(conn, %{})
+
+    assert conn == ret_conn
+  end
+
+  test "denies a user that isn't a staff member" do
+    user = insert(:user)
+
+    conn =
+      build_conn()
+      |> assign(:user, user)
+      |> UserIsStaffPlug.call(%{})
+
+    assert conn.status == 403
+  end
+
+  test "denies when a user isn't set" do
+    conn = UserIsStaffPlug.call(build_conn(), %{})
+
+    assert conn.status == 403
+  end
+end