diff --git a/src/controllers/accounts/edit.js b/src/controllers/accounts/edit.js
index 9c298f18cc..de5cf391f5 100644
--- a/src/controllers/accounts/edit.js
+++ b/src/controllers/accounts/edit.js
@@ -77,10 +77,24 @@ editController.username = async function (req, res, next) {
 	await renderRoute('username', req, res, next);
 };
 
-editController.email = async function (req, res) {
+editController.email = async function (req, res, next) {
+	const targetUid = await user.getUidByUserslug(req.params.userslug);
+	if (!targetUid) {
+		return next();
+	}
+
+	const [isAdminOrGlobalMod, canEdit] = await Promise.all([
+		user.isAdminOrGlobalMod(req.uid),
+		privileges.users.canEdit(req.uid, targetUid),
+	]);
+
+	if (!isAdminOrGlobalMod && !canEdit) {
+		return next();
+	}
+
 	req.session.registration = req.session.registration || {};
 	req.session.registration.updateEmail = true;
-	req.session.registration.uid = req.uid;
+	req.session.registration.uid = targetUid;
 	helpers.redirect(res, '/register/complete');
 };
 
diff --git a/src/user/index.js b/src/user/index.js
index f1172e7553..c7151c49de 100644
--- a/src/user/index.js
+++ b/src/user/index.js
@@ -259,10 +259,22 @@ User.addInterstitials = function (callback) {
 									throw new Error('[[error:email-nochange]]');
 								}
 
-								await User.email.sendValidationEmail(userData.uid, {
-									email: formData.email,
-									force: true,
-								});
+								const [isAdminOrGlobalMod, canEdit] = await Promise.all([
+									User.isAdminOrGlobalMod(data.req.uid),
+									privileges.users.canEdit(data.req.uid, userData.uid),
+								]);
+								if (isAdminOrGlobalMod) {
+									await User.setUserField(userData.uid, 'email', formData.email);
+									await User.email.confirmByUid(userData.uid);
+								} else if (canEdit) {
+									await User.email.sendValidationEmail(userData.uid, {
+										email: formData.email,
+										force: true,
+									});
+								} else {
+									// User attempting to edit another user's email -- not allowed
+									throw new Error('[[error:no-privileges]]');
+								}
 							} else {
 								// New registrants have the confirm email sent from user.create()
 								userData.email = formData.email;