diff --git a/public/templates/topic.tpl b/public/templates/topic.tpl
index b5bd0e1916..90ad7db476 100644
--- a/public/templates/topic.tpl
+++ b/public/templates/topic.tpl
@@ -76,10 +76,12 @@
 								<!-- ENDIF posts.favourited -->
 							</button>
 						</div>
+						<!-- IF privileges.write -->
 						<div class="btn-group">
 							<button class="btn btn-sm btn-default quote" type="button" title="[[topic:quote]]"><i class="fa fa-quote-left"></i></button>
 							<button class="btn btn-sm btn-primary btn post_reply" type="button">[[topic:reply]] <i class="fa fa-reply"></i></button>
 						</div>
+						<!-- ENDIF privileges.write -->
 
 						<div class="pull-right">
 							<div class="btn-group post-tools">
@@ -151,7 +153,9 @@
 					<div class="thread_active_users active-users inline-block"></div>
 				</div>
 				<div class="topic-main-buttons pull-right inline-block">
+					<!-- IF privileges.write -->
 					<button class="btn btn-primary post_reply" type="button">[[topic:reply]]</button>
+					<!-- ENDIF privileges.write -->
 					<div class="btn-group thread-tools hide">
 						<button class="btn btn-default dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" type="button">[[topic:thread_tools.title]] <span class="caret"></span></button>
 						<ul class="dropdown-menu pull-right">
@@ -177,7 +181,9 @@
 			<div class="loading-indicator" done="0" style="display:none;">
 				<span class="hidden-xs-inline">[[topic:loading_more_posts]]</span> <i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i>
 			</div>
+			<!-- IF privileges.write -->
 			<button class="btn btn-primary post_reply" type="button">[[topic:reply]]</button>
+			<!-- ENDIF privileges.write -->
 			<div class="btn-group thread-tools hide">
 				<button class="btn btn-default dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" type="button">[[topic:thread_tools.title]] <span class="caret"></span></button>
 				<ul class="dropdown-menu pull-right">
diff --git a/src/routes/api.js b/src/routes/api.js
index a6e429453a..7334e99868 100644
--- a/src/routes/api.js
+++ b/src/routes/api.js
@@ -166,6 +166,9 @@ var path = require('path'),
 					if (privileges.read) {
 						topics.getTopicWithPosts(req.params.id, uid, 0, 10, false, function (err, data) {
 							if (!err) {
+								// Send in privilege data as well
+								data.privileges = privileges;
+
 								if (parseInt(data.deleted, 10) === 1 && parseInt(data.expose_tools, 10) === 0) {
 									return res.json(404, {});
 								}