diff --git a/app/jobs/regular/close_topic.rb b/app/jobs/regular/close_topic.rb
index 61a27588cef..0703c971f55 100644
--- a/app/jobs/regular/close_topic.rb
+++ b/app/jobs/regular/close_topic.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ module Jobs
     def execute(args)
       if topic = Topic.find_by(id: args[:topic_id])
         closer = User.find_by(id: args[:user_id])
+        guardian = Guardian.new(closer)
+        unless guardian.can_close?(topic)
+          closer = Discourse.system_user
+        end
         topic.auto_close(closer)
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/guardian.rb b/lib/guardian.rb
index 1db182aa8ed..51cedb1e93a 100644
--- a/lib/guardian.rb
+++ b/lib/guardian.rb
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ class Guardian
   alias :can_move_posts? :can_moderate?
   alias :can_see_flags? :can_moderate?
   alias :can_send_activation_email? :can_moderate?
+  alias :can_close? :can_moderate?
 
   def can_grant_badges?(_user)
     SiteSetting.enable_badges && is_staff?