diff --git a/js/forum/src/components/IndexPage.js b/js/forum/src/components/IndexPage.js
index 677c3f494..b903c7ff0 100644
--- a/js/forum/src/components/IndexPage.js
+++ b/js/forum/src/components/IndexPage.js
@@ -146,14 +146,16 @@ export default class IndexPage extends Component {
    */
   sidebarItems() {
     const items = new ItemList();
+    const canStartDiscussion = app.forum.canStartDiscussion() || !app.session.user;
 
     items.add('newDiscussion',
       Button.component({
-        children: app.trans('core.start_a_discussion'),
+        children: canStartDiscussion ? app.trans('core.start_a_discussion') : 'Can\'t Start Discussion',
         icon: 'edit',
         className: 'Button Button--primary IndexPage-newDiscussion',
         itemClassName: 'App-primaryControl',
-        onclick: this.newDiscussion.bind(this)
+        onclick: this.newDiscussion.bind(this),
+        disabled: !canStartDiscussion
       })
     );
 
diff --git a/js/lib/models/Forum.js b/js/lib/models/Forum.js
index 2898b170b..bdda47170 100644
--- a/js/lib/models/Forum.js
+++ b/js/lib/models/Forum.js
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import Model from 'flarum/Model';
+import mixin from 'flarum/utils/mixin';
 
-export default class Forum extends Model {
+export default class Forum extends mixin(Model, {
+  canStartDiscussion: Model.attribute('canStartDiscussion')
+}) {
   apiEndpoint() {
     return '/forum';
   }
diff --git a/src/Api/Serializers/ForumSerializer.php b/src/Api/Serializers/ForumSerializer.php
index b52eb3709..381b2bd83 100644
--- a/src/Api/Serializers/ForumSerializer.php
+++ b/src/Api/Serializers/ForumSerializer.php
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ class ForumSerializer extends Serializer
             'apiUrl' => Core::config('api_url'),
             'welcomeTitle' => Core::config('welcome_title'),
             'welcomeMessage' => Core::config('welcome_message'),
-            'themePrimaryColor' => Core::config('theme_primary_color')
+            'themePrimaryColor' => Core::config('theme_primary_color'),
+            'canStartDiscussion' => $forum->can($this->actor, 'startDiscussion')
         ];
 
         if ($this->actor->isAdmin()) {