diff --git a/zerver/lib/actions.py b/zerver/lib/actions.py
index 24433b3a98..25f9897bda 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/actions.py
@@ -1206,7 +1206,7 @@ def do_deactivate_user(
 
 
 def do_deactivate_stream(
-    stream: Stream, log: bool = True, acting_user: Optional[UserProfile] = None
+    stream: Stream, log: bool = True, *, acting_user: Optional[UserProfile]
 ) -> None:
     # We want to mark all messages in the to-be-deactivated stream as
     # read for all users; otherwise they will pollute queries like
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_archive.py b/zerver/tests/test_archive.py
index dfe505d5cc..c4cba3c8b6 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_archive.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_archive.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class GlobalPublicStreamTest(ZulipTestCase):
         self.assert_length(info.never_subscribed, 0)
         self.assertNotEqual(info.subscriptions[0]["color"], info.subscriptions[1]["color"])
 
-        do_deactivate_stream(test_stream)
+        do_deactivate_stream(test_stream, acting_user=None)
         public_streams = get_web_public_streams(realm)
         self.assert_length(public_streams, 1)
         info = get_web_public_subs(realm)
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_events.py b/zerver/tests/test_events.py
index daf1550c70..f04aa0bf25 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_events.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_events.py
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@ class NormalActionsTest(BaseAction):
     def test_deactivate_stream_neversubscribed(self) -> None:
         for i, include_streams in enumerate([True, False]):
             stream = self.make_stream(f"stream{i}")
-            action = lambda: do_deactivate_stream(stream)
+            action = lambda: do_deactivate_stream(stream, acting_user=None)
             events = self.verify_action(action, include_streams=include_streams)
             check_stream_delete("events[0]", events[0])
 
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_realm.py b/zerver/tests/test_realm.py
index 33860f95a9..5fa6b75041 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_realm.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_realm.py
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ class RealmTest(ZulipTestCase):
         notifications_stream = realm.get_notifications_stream()
         assert notifications_stream is not None
         self.assertEqual(notifications_stream.id, verona.id)
-        do_deactivate_stream(notifications_stream)
+        do_deactivate_stream(notifications_stream, acting_user=None)
         self.assertIsNone(realm.get_notifications_stream())
 
     def test_change_signup_notifications_stream(self) -> None:
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ class RealmTest(ZulipTestCase):
         signup_notifications_stream = realm.get_signup_notifications_stream()
         assert signup_notifications_stream is not None
         self.assertEqual(signup_notifications_stream, verona)
-        do_deactivate_stream(signup_notifications_stream)
+        do_deactivate_stream(signup_notifications_stream, acting_user=None)
         self.assertIsNone(realm.get_signup_notifications_stream())
 
     def test_change_realm_default_language(self) -> None:
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_subs.py b/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
index 20ae882c63..5769f917a8 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ class StreamAdminTest(ZulipTestCase):
         stream = self.make_stream("new_stream")
         do_add_default_stream(stream)
         self.assertEqual(1, DefaultStream.objects.filter(stream_id=stream.id).count())
-        do_deactivate_stream(stream)
+        do_deactivate_stream(stream, acting_user=None)
         self.assertEqual(0, DefaultStream.objects.filter(stream_id=stream.id).count())
 
     def test_deactivate_stream_removes_stream_from_default_stream_groups(self) -> None:
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ class StreamAdminTest(ZulipTestCase):
         default_stream_groups = get_default_stream_groups(realm)
         self.assertEqual(get_streams(default_stream_groups[0]), all_streams)
 
-        do_deactivate_stream(streams_to_remove[0])
+        do_deactivate_stream(streams_to_remove[0], acting_user=None)
         self.assertEqual(get_streams(default_stream_groups[0]), streams_to_keep)
 
     def test_deactivate_stream_marks_messages_as_read(self) -> None:
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ class StreamAdminTest(ZulipTestCase):
         self.assertFalse(new_stream_usermessage.flags.read)
         self.assertFalse(denmark_usermessage.flags.read)
 
-        do_deactivate_stream(stream)
+        do_deactivate_stream(stream, acting_user=None)
         new_stream_usermessage.refresh_from_db()
         denmark_usermessage.refresh_from_db()
         self.assertTrue(new_stream_usermessage.flags.read)