diff --git a/src/plugins/ModActions.ts b/src/plugins/ModActions.ts
index 31d260a3..79967732 100644
--- a/src/plugins/ModActions.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/ModActions.ts
@@ -272,15 +272,9 @@ export class ModActionsPlugin extends Plugin {
     }
 
     // Make sure we're allowed to mute this member
-    if (msg.member.id !== args.member.id) {
-      const ourLevel = this.getMemberLevel(msg.member);
-      const memberLevel = this.getMemberLevel(args.member);
-      if (ourLevel <= memberLevel) {
-        msg.channel.createMessage(
-          errorMessage("Cannot mute: insufficient permissions")
-        );
-        return;
-      }
+    if (!this.canActOn(msg.member, args.member)) {
+      msg.channel.createMessage(errorMessage("Cannot mute: insufficient permissions"));
+      return;
     }
 
     // Convert mute time from e.g. "2h30m" to milliseconds
@@ -382,6 +376,16 @@ export class ModActionsPlugin extends Plugin {
     }
   }
 
+  protected canActOn(member1, member2) {
+    if (member1.id === member2.id) {
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    const ourLevel = this.getMemberLevel(member1);
+    const memberLevel = this.getMemberLevel(member2);
+    return (ourLevel > memberLevel);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Attempts to message the specified user through DMs and/or the message channel.
    * Returns a promise that resolves to a boolean indicating whether we were able to message them or not.