diff --git a/app/controllers/topics_controller.rb b/app/controllers/topics_controller.rb
index 4961793ffa9..ef0cd8ba69d 100644
--- a/app/controllers/topics_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/topics_controller.rb
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ class TopicsController < ApplicationController
       topic_ids = params[:topic_ids].map {|t| t.to_i}
     elsif params[:filter] == 'unread'
       tq = TopicQuery.new(current_user)
-      topics = TopicQuery.unread_filter(tq.joined_topic_user).listable_topics
+      topics = TopicQuery.unread_filter(tq.joined_topic_user, staff: guardian.is_staff?).listable_topics
       topics = topics.where('category_id = ?', params[:category_id]) if params[:category_id]
       topic_ids = topics.pluck(:id)
     else
diff --git a/spec/controllers/topics_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/topics_controller_spec.rb
index 05a7b504778..452470abdae 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/topics_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/topics_controller_spec.rb
@@ -1224,6 +1224,12 @@ describe TopicsController do
         expect { xhr :put, :bulk, topic_ids: topic_ids, operation: {}}.to raise_error(ActionController::ParameterMissing)
       end
 
+      it "can find unread" do
+        # mark all unread muted
+        xhr :put, :bulk, filter: 'unread', operation: {type: :change_notification_level, notification_level_id: 0}
+        expect(response.status).to eq(200)
+      end
+
       it "delegates work to `TopicsBulkAction`" do
         topics_bulk_action = mock
         TopicsBulkAction.expects(:new).with(user, topic_ids, operation, group: nil).returns(topics_bulk_action)