diff --git a/web/src/stream_list.ts b/web/src/stream_list.ts
index 3e653cc038..2356fb794b 100644
--- a/web/src/stream_list.ts
+++ b/web/src/stream_list.ts
@@ -445,6 +445,7 @@ export function set_in_home_view(stream_id: number, in_home: boolean): void {
 function build_stream_sidebar_li(sub: StreamSubscription): JQuery {
     const name = sub.name;
     const is_muted = stream_data.is_muted(sub.stream_id);
+    const can_post_messages = stream_data.can_post_messages_in_stream(sub);
     const args = {
         name,
         id: sub.stream_id,
@@ -455,6 +456,7 @@ function build_stream_sidebar_li(sub: StreamSubscription): JQuery {
         color: sub.color,
         pin_to_top: sub.pin_to_top,
         hide_unread_count: settings_data.should_mask_unread_count(is_muted),
+        can_post_messages,
     };
     const $list_item = $(render_stream_sidebar_row(args));
     return $list_item;
diff --git a/web/templates/stream_sidebar_row.hbs b/web/templates/stream_sidebar_row.hbs
index bbbffe8a33..0808881a2e 100644
--- a/web/templates/stream_sidebar_row.hbs
+++ b/web/templates/stream_sidebar_row.hbs
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@
             <a href="{{url}}" title="{{name}}" class="stream-name">{{name}}</a>
 
             <div class="left-sidebar-controls">
+                {{#if can_post_messages}}
                 <div class="channel-new-topic-button tippy-zulip-tooltip hidden-for-spectators" data-tippy-content="{{t 'New topic'}}" data-stream-id="{{id}}">
                     <i class="channel-new-topic-icon zulip-icon zulip-icon-square-plus" aria-hidden="true"></i>
                 </div>
+                {{/if}}
             </div>
 
             <div class="stream-markers-and-unreads">
diff --git a/web/tests/stream_list.test.js b/web/tests/stream_list.test.js
index 0d77fbc049..5d23a52155 100644
--- a/web/tests/stream_list.test.js
+++ b/web/tests/stream_list.test.js
@@ -7,9 +7,14 @@ const {run_test, noop} = require("./lib/test");
 const $ = require("./lib/zjquery");
 const {page_params} = require("./lib/zpage_params");
 
+const people = zrequire("people");
+const {set_current_user} = zrequire("state_data");
+
 set_global("document", "document-stub");
 
 page_params.realm_users = [];
+const current_user = {};
+set_current_user(current_user);
 
 // We use this with override.
 let unread_unmuted_count;
@@ -39,6 +44,16 @@ const {initialize_user_settings} = zrequire("user_settings");
 const user_settings = {};
 initialize_user_settings({user_settings});
 
+const me = {
+    email: "me@example.com",
+    user_id: 30,
+    full_name: "Me Myself",
+    date_joined: new Date(),
+};
+
+people.add_active_user(me);
+people.initialize_current_user(me.user_id);
+
 const devel = {
     name: "devel",
     stream_id: 100,
@@ -673,6 +688,7 @@ test_ui("rename_stream", ({mock_template, override}) => {
             color: payload.color,
             pin_to_top: true,
             hide_unread_count: true,
+            can_post_messages: true,
         });
         return {to_$: () => $li_stub};
     });