diff --git a/lib/guardian/category_guardian.rb b/lib/guardian/category_guardian.rb
index b711c12d03e..4a419ce1e9a 100644
--- a/lib/guardian/category_guardian.rb
+++ b/lib/guardian/category_guardian.rb
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ module CategoryGuardian
   end
 
   def can_see_category?(category)
-    is_admin? ||
-    !category.read_restricted ||
-    (@user.staged? && category.email_in.present? && category.email_in_allow_strangers) ||
+    return true if is_admin?
+    return true if !category.read_restricted
+    return true if is_staged? && category.email_in.present? && category.email_in_allow_strangers
     secure_category_ids.include?(category.id)
   end
 
diff --git a/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb b/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb
index 007b77db4c1..fabf1c879e7 100644
--- a/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb
+++ b/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb
@@ -68,43 +68,27 @@ module TopicGuardian
   end
 
   def can_reply_as_new_topic?(topic)
-    authenticated? && topic && not(topic.private_message?) && @user.has_trust_level?(TrustLevel[1])
+    authenticated? && topic && !topic.private_message? && @user.has_trust_level?(TrustLevel[1])
   end
 
   def can_see_deleted_topics?
     is_staff?
   end
 
-  def can_see_topic?(topic)
+  def can_see_topic?(topic, hide_deleted=true)
     return false unless topic
-    # Admins can see everything
     return true if is_admin?
-    # Deleted topics
-    return false if topic.deleted_at && !can_see_deleted_topics?
+    return false if hide_deleted && topic.deleted_at && !can_see_deleted_topics?
 
     if topic.private_message?
-      return authenticated? &&
-             topic.all_allowed_users.where(id: @user.id).exists?
+      return authenticated? && topic.all_allowed_users.where(id: @user.id).exists?
     end
 
-    # not secure, or I can see it
-    !topic.read_restricted_category? || can_see_category?(topic.category)
+    can_see_category?(topic.category)
   end
 
   def can_see_topic_if_not_deleted?(topic)
-    return false unless topic
-    # Admins can see everything
-    return true if is_admin?
-    # Deleted topics
-    # return false if topic.deleted_at && !can_see_deleted_topics?
-
-    if topic.private_message?
-      return authenticated? &&
-        topic.all_allowed_users.where(id: @user.id).exists?
-    end
-
-    # not secure, or I can see it
-    !topic.read_restricted_category? || can_see_category?(topic.category)
+    can_see_topic?(topic, false)
   end
 
   def filter_allowed_categories(records)