diff --git a/crates/api/src/community/ban.rs b/crates/api/src/community/ban.rs
index 877d9464f..e6425c1ab 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/community/ban.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/community/ban.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
   community::{BanFromCommunity, BanFromCommunityResponse},
   context::LemmyContext,
   send_activity::{ActivityChannel, SendActivityData},
-  utils::{check_community_mod_action, check_expire_time, remove_user_data_in_community},
+  utils::{
+    check_community_mod_action,
+    check_expire_time,
+    check_is_higher_mod,
+    remove_user_data_in_community,
+  },
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   source::{
@@ -44,6 +49,14 @@ pub async fn ban_from_community(
   )
   .await?;
 
+  check_is_higher_mod(
+    &mut context.pool(),
+    &local_user_view,
+    data.community_id,
+    &[data.person_id],
+  )
+  .await?;
+
   if let Some(reason) = &data.reason {
     is_valid_body_field(reason, false)?;
   }
diff --git a/crates/api/src/local_user/ban_person.rs b/crates/api/src/local_user/ban_person.rs
index 49cd6893a..07dc9c822 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/local_user/ban_person.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/local_user/ban_person.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
   context::LemmyContext,
   person::{BanPerson, BanPersonResponse},
   send_activity::{ActivityChannel, SendActivityData},
-  utils::{check_expire_time, is_admin, remove_user_data},
+  utils::{check_expire_time, check_is_higher_admin, is_admin, remove_user_data},
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   source::{
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ pub async fn ban_from_site(
   // Make sure user is an admin
   is_admin(&local_user_view)?;
 
+  // Also make sure you're a higher admin than the target
+  check_is_higher_admin(&mut context.pool(), &local_user_view, &[data.person_id]).await?;
+
   if let Some(reason) = &data.reason {
     is_valid_body_field(reason, false)?;
   }
diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs b/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs
index e61730af6..3531dc6ec 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/utils.rs
@@ -178,6 +178,25 @@ pub async fn check_is_higher_admin(
   Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Checks to make sure the acting admin is higher than the target admin.
+/// This needs to be done on admin removals, and all purge functions
+pub async fn check_is_higher_mod_or_admin(
+  pool: &mut DbPool<'_>,
+  local_user_view: &LocalUserView,
+  community_id: CommunityId,
+  target_person_ids: &[PersonId],
+) -> LemmyResult<()> {
+  let higher_admin_check = check_is_higher_admin(pool, local_user_view, target_person_ids).await;
+  let higher_mod_check =
+    check_is_higher_mod(pool, local_user_view, community_id, target_person_ids).await;
+
+  if higher_mod_check.is_ok() || higher_admin_check.is_ok() {
+    Ok(())
+  } else {
+    Err(LemmyErrorType::NotHigherMod)?
+  }
+}
+
 /// Marks a post as read for a given person.
 #[tracing::instrument(skip_all)]
 pub async fn mark_post_as_read(
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/remove.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/remove.rs
index 926472b94..1382119dd 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/comment/remove.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/comment/remove.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
   comment::{CommentResponse, RemoveComment},
   context::LemmyContext,
   send_activity::{ActivityChannel, SendActivityData},
-  utils::check_community_mod_action,
+  utils::{check_community_mod_action, check_is_higher_mod_or_admin},
 };
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   source::{
@@ -37,6 +37,14 @@ pub async fn remove_comment(
   )
   .await?;
 
+  check_is_higher_mod_or_admin(
+    &mut context.pool(),
+    &local_user_view,
+    orig_comment.community.id,
+    &[orig_comment.creator.id],
+  )
+  .await?;
+
   // Don't allow removing or restoring comment which was deleted by user, as it would reveal
   // the comment text in mod log.
   if orig_comment.comment.deleted {
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/impls/community.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/impls/community.rs
index a4720e275..d704ef574 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/impls/community.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/impls/community.rs
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ impl CommunityModerator {
     for_community_id: CommunityId,
     mod_person_id: PersonId,
     target_person_ids: &[PersonId],
-  ) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+  ) -> Result<(), Error> {
     let conn = &mut get_conn(pool).await?;
 
     // Build the list of persons
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ impl CommunityModerator {
 
     // If the first result sorted by published is the acting mod
     if res.person_id == mod_person_id {
-      Ok(true)
+      Ok(())
     } else {
       Err(diesel::result::Error::NotFound)
     }
@@ -554,8 +554,8 @@ mod tests {
       inserted_bobby.id,
       &moderator_person_ids,
     )
-    .await?;
-    assert!(bobby_higher_check);
+    .await;
+    assert!(bobby_higher_check.is_ok());
 
     // This should throw an error, since artemis was added later
     let artemis_higher_check = CommunityModerator::is_higher_mod_check(
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/impls/local_user.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/impls/local_user.rs
index a7702e6eb..4388c08c4 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/impls/local_user.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/impls/local_user.rs
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ impl LocalUser {
     pool: &mut DbPool<'_>,
     admin_person_id: PersonId,
     target_person_ids: &[PersonId],
-  ) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+  ) -> Result<(), Error> {
     let conn = &mut get_conn(pool).await?;
 
     // Build the list of persons
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ impl LocalUser {
 
     // If the first result sorted by published is the acting mod
     if res.person_id == admin_person_id {
-      Ok(true)
+      Ok(())
     } else {
       Err(diesel::result::Error::NotFound)
     }
@@ -346,8 +346,8 @@ mod tests {
 
     // Make sure fiona is marked as a higher admin than delores, and vice versa
     let fiona_higher_check =
-      LocalUser::is_higher_admin_check(pool, inserted_fiona_person.id, &admin_person_ids).await?;
-    assert!(fiona_higher_check);
+      LocalUser::is_higher_admin_check(pool, inserted_fiona_person.id, &admin_person_ids).await;
+    assert!(fiona_higher_check.is_ok());
 
     // This should throw an error, since delores was added later
     let delores_higher_check =