diff --git a/backend/src/plugins/ModActions.ts b/backend/src/plugins/ModActions.ts
index 578fd7c7..74042b9f 100644
--- a/backend/src/plugins/ModActions.ts
+++ b/backend/src/plugins/ModActions.ts
@@ -892,16 +892,16 @@ export class ModActionsPlugin extends ZeppelinPlugin<TConfigSchema> {
   async unmuteCmd(msg: Message, args: { user: string; time?: number; reason?: string; mod?: Member }) {
     const user = await this.resolveUser(args.user);
     if (!user) return this.sendErrorMessage(msg.channel, `User not found`);
+    const memberToUnmute = await this.getMember(user.id);
+    const mutesPlugin = this.getPlugin<MutesPlugin>("mutes");
+    const hasMuteRole = mutesPlugin.hasMutedRole(memberToUnmute);
 
     // Check if they're muted in the first place
-    if (!(await this.mutes.isMuted(args.user))) {
+    if (!(await this.mutes.isMuted(args.user)) && !hasMuteRole) {
       this.sendErrorMessage(msg.channel, "Cannot unmute: member is not muted");
       return;
     }
 
-    // Find the server member to unmute
-    const memberToUnmute = await this.getMember(user.id);
-
     if (!memberToUnmute) {
       const isBanned = await this.isBanned(user.id);
       const prefix = this.guildConfig.prefix;
diff --git a/backend/src/plugins/Mutes.ts b/backend/src/plugins/Mutes.ts
index 0f3c2884..64169a2a 100644
--- a/backend/src/plugins/Mutes.ts
+++ b/backend/src/plugins/Mutes.ts
@@ -275,14 +275,18 @@ export class MutesPlugin extends ZeppelinPlugin<TConfigSchema> {
     caseArgs: Partial<CaseArgs> = {},
   ): Promise<UnmuteResult> {
     const existingMute = await this.mutes.findExistingMuteForUserId(userId);
-    if (!existingMute) return;
-
     const user = await this.resolveUser(userId);
     const member = await this.getMember(userId, true); // Grab the fresh member so we don't have stale role info
 
+    if (!existingMute && !this.hasMutedRole(member)) return;
+
     if (unmuteTime) {
       // Schedule timed unmute (= just set the mute's duration)
-      await this.mutes.updateExpiryTime(userId, unmuteTime);
+      if (!existingMute) {
+        await this.mutes.addMute(userId, unmuteTime);
+      } else {
+        await this.mutes.updateExpiryTime(userId, unmuteTime);
+      }
     } else {
       // Unmute immediately
       if (member) {
@@ -295,8 +299,9 @@ export class MutesPlugin extends ZeppelinPlugin<TConfigSchema> {
           `Member ${userId} not found in guild ${this.guild.name} (${this.guildId}) when attempting to unmute`,
         );
       }
-
-      await this.mutes.clear(userId);
+      if (existingMute) {
+        await this.mutes.clear(userId);
+      }
     }
 
     const timeUntilUnmute = unmuteTime && humanizeDuration(unmuteTime);
@@ -308,6 +313,9 @@ export class MutesPlugin extends ZeppelinPlugin<TConfigSchema> {
     } else {
       noteDetails.push(`Unmuted immediately`);
     }
+    if (!existingMute) {
+      noteDetails.push(`Removed external mute`);
+    }
 
     const casesPlugin = this.getPlugin<CasesPlugin>("cases");
     const createdCase = await casesPlugin.createCase({
@@ -338,6 +346,13 @@ export class MutesPlugin extends ZeppelinPlugin<TConfigSchema> {
     };
   }
 
+  public hasMutedRole(member: Member) {
+    if (member.roles.includes(this.getConfig().mute_role)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
   @d.command("mutes", [], {
     options: [
       {