diff --git a/app/gabsocial/utils/__tests__/accounts-test.js b/app/gabsocial/utils/__tests__/accounts-test.js
index 2f7bbb3dd..ad4614fd8 100644
--- a/app/gabsocial/utils/__tests__/accounts-test.js
+++ b/app/gabsocial/utils/__tests__/accounts-test.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { getDomain, acctFull } from '../accounts';
+import { getDomain, acctFull, isStaff } from '../accounts';
 import { fromJS } from 'immutable';
 
 describe('getDomain', () => {
@@ -32,3 +32,26 @@ describe('acctFull', () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe('isStaff', () => {
+  describe('with empty user', () => {
+    const account = fromJS({});
+    it('returns false', () => {
+      expect(isStaff(account)).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('with Pleroma admin', () => {
+    const admin = fromJS({ pleroma: { is_admin: true } });
+    it('returns true', () => {
+      expect(isStaff(admin)).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('with Pleroma moderator', () => {
+    const mod = fromJS({ pleroma: { is_moderator: true } });
+    it('returns true', () => {
+      expect(isStaff(mod)).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/app/gabsocial/utils/accounts.js b/app/gabsocial/utils/accounts.js
index 42ad7a98c..1aa0c922a 100644
--- a/app/gabsocial/utils/accounts.js
+++ b/app/gabsocial/utils/accounts.js
@@ -14,3 +14,9 @@ export const acctFull = account => {
   }
   return [user, domain].join('@');
 };
+
+export const isStaff = account => {
+  return ['is_admin', 'is_moderator'].some(key => (
+    account.getIn(['pleroma', key]) === true
+  ));
+};