diff --git a/zerver/decorator.py b/zerver/decorator.py
index 3097d93bb0..1d6bb47e58 100644
--- a/zerver/decorator.py
+++ b/zerver/decorator.py
@@ -158,6 +158,24 @@ def require_realm_admin(
     return wrapper
 
 
+def check_if_user_can_manage_default_streams(
+    func: Callable[Concatenate[HttpRequest, UserProfile, ParamT], HttpResponse],
+) -> Callable[Concatenate[HttpRequest, UserProfile, ParamT], HttpResponse]:
+    @wraps(func)
+    def wrapper(
+        request: HttpRequest,
+        user_profile: UserProfile,
+        /,
+        *args: ParamT.args,
+        **kwargs: ParamT.kwargs,
+    ) -> HttpResponse:
+        if not user_profile.can_manage_default_streams():
+            raise OrganizationAdministratorRequiredError
+        return func(request, user_profile, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    return wrapper
+
+
 def require_organization_member(
     func: Callable[Concatenate[HttpRequest, UserProfile, ParamT], HttpResponse],
 ) -> Callable[Concatenate[HttpRequest, UserProfile, ParamT], HttpResponse]:
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_subs.py b/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
index 7c4c77f88f..5abae1110b 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
@@ -3491,7 +3491,6 @@ class DefaultStreamTest(ZulipTestCase):
 
     def test_api_calls(self) -> None:
         user_profile = self.example_user("hamlet")
-        do_change_user_role(user_profile, UserProfile.ROLE_REALM_ADMINISTRATOR, acting_user=None)
         self.login_user(user_profile)
 
         DefaultStream.objects.filter(realm=user_profile.realm).delete()
@@ -3499,6 +3498,11 @@ class DefaultStreamTest(ZulipTestCase):
         stream_name = "stream ADDED via api"
         stream = ensure_stream(user_profile.realm, stream_name, acting_user=None)
         result = self.client_post("/json/default_streams", dict(stream_id=stream.id))
+        self.assert_json_error(result, "Must be an organization administrator")
+        self.assertFalse(stream_name in self.get_default_stream_names(user_profile.realm))
+
+        do_change_user_role(user_profile, UserProfile.ROLE_REALM_ADMINISTRATOR, acting_user=None)
+        result = self.client_post("/json/default_streams", dict(stream_id=stream.id))
         self.assert_json_success(result)
         self.assertTrue(stream_name in self.get_default_stream_names(user_profile.realm))
 
diff --git a/zerver/views/streams.py b/zerver/views/streams.py
index 9ad7cb15bd..fb71402a98 100644
--- a/zerver/views/streams.py
+++ b/zerver/views/streams.py
@@ -42,7 +42,11 @@ from zerver.actions.streams import (
     get_subscriber_ids,
 )
 from zerver.context_processors import get_valid_realm_from_request
-from zerver.decorator import require_non_guest_user, require_realm_admin
+from zerver.decorator import (
+    check_if_user_can_manage_default_streams,
+    require_non_guest_user,
+    require_realm_admin,
+)
 from zerver.lib.default_streams import get_default_stream_ids_for_realm
 from zerver.lib.email_mirror_helpers import encode_email_address
 from zerver.lib.exceptions import (
@@ -141,7 +145,7 @@ def deactivate_stream_backend(
     return json_success(request)
 
 
-@require_realm_admin
+@check_if_user_can_manage_default_streams
 @typed_endpoint
 def add_default_stream(
     request: HttpRequest, user_profile: UserProfile, *, stream_id: Json[int]
@@ -153,7 +157,7 @@ def add_default_stream(
     return json_success(request)
 
 
-@require_realm_admin
+@check_if_user_can_manage_default_streams
 @typed_endpoint
 def create_default_stream_group(
     request: HttpRequest,
@@ -171,7 +175,7 @@ def create_default_stream_group(
     return json_success(request)
 
 
-@require_realm_admin
+@check_if_user_can_manage_default_streams
 @typed_endpoint
 def update_default_stream_group_info(
     request: HttpRequest,
@@ -192,7 +196,7 @@ def update_default_stream_group_info(
     return json_success(request)
 
 
-@require_realm_admin
+@check_if_user_can_manage_default_streams
 @typed_endpoint
 def update_default_stream_group_streams(
     request: HttpRequest,
@@ -217,7 +221,7 @@ def update_default_stream_group_streams(
     return json_success(request)
 
 
-@require_realm_admin
+@check_if_user_can_manage_default_streams
 @typed_endpoint
 def remove_default_stream_group(
     request: HttpRequest, user_profile: UserProfile, *, group_id: PathOnly[int]
@@ -227,7 +231,7 @@ def remove_default_stream_group(
     return json_success(request)
 
 
-@require_realm_admin
+@check_if_user_can_manage_default_streams
 @typed_endpoint
 def remove_default_stream(
     request: HttpRequest, user_profile: UserProfile, *, stream_id: Json[int]