diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/templates.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/templates.js
index b8bf5982f2..bf7cf886d2 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/templates.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/templates.js
@@ -122,13 +122,29 @@ function render(template_name, args) {
 (function admin_default_streams_list() {
     var html = '<table>';
     var streams = ['devel', 'trac', 'zulip'];
+
+    // When the logged in user is admin
     _.each(streams, function (stream) {
-        var args = {stream: {name: stream, invite_only: false}};
+        var args = {stream: {name: stream, invite_only: false},
+                    can_modify: true,
+                    };
         html += render('admin_default_streams_list', args);
     });
     html += "</table>";
     var span = $(html).find(".default_stream_name:first");
     assert.equal(span.text(), "devel");
+
+    // When the logged in user is not admin
+    html = '<table>';
+    _.each(streams, function (stream) {
+        var args = {stream: {name: stream, invite_only: false},
+                    can_modify: false,
+                    };
+        html += render('admin_default_streams_list', args);
+    });
+    html += "</table>";
+    span = $(html).find(".default_stream_name:first");
+    assert.equal(span.text(), "devel");
     global.write_handlebars_output("admin_default_streams_list", html);
 }());
 
diff --git a/static/js/admin.js b/static/js/admin.js
index 304921d5e4..760593460b 100644
--- a/static/js/admin.js
+++ b/static/js/admin.js
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ exports.show_or_hide_menu_item = function () {
             .find("input, button, select").attr("disabled", true);
         $(".organization-box [data-name='auth-methods']")
             .find("input, button, select, checked").attr("disabled", true);
+        $(".organization-box [data-name='default-streams-list']")
+            .find("input, button, select").attr("disabled", true);
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/static/js/settings_streams.js b/static/js/settings_streams.js
index a0e71c4e65..5704af429a 100644
--- a/static/js/settings_streams.js
+++ b/static/js/settings_streams.js
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ exports.build_default_stream_table = function (streams_data) {
     (function () {
         var table = $("#admin_default_streams_table").expectOne();
         _.each(streams_data, function (stream) {
-            var row = $(templates.render("admin_default_streams_list", {stream: stream}));
+            var row = $(templates.render("admin_default_streams_list", {stream: stream, can_modify: page_params.is_admin}));
             set_up_remove_click_hander(row, stream.name);
             self.row_dict.set(stream.stream_id, row);
             table.append(row);
diff --git a/static/templates/admin_default_streams_list.handlebars b/static/templates/admin_default_streams_list.handlebars
index f0ce838691..a45f154df4 100644
--- a/static/templates/admin_default_streams_list.handlebars
+++ b/static/templates/admin_default_streams_list.handlebars
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
         {{#if invite_only}}<i class="icon-vector-lock "></i>{{/if}}
         <span class="default_stream_name">{{name}}</span>
     </td>
+    {{#if ../can_modify}}
     <td>
         <button class="button remove-default-stream btn-danger">
             {{t "Remove from default" }}
         </button>
     </td>
+    {{/if}}
 </tr>
 {{/with}}
diff --git a/static/templates/settings/default-streams-list-admin.handlebars b/static/templates/settings/default-streams-list-admin.handlebars
index 5096b81bbc..c06bd5bbd9 100644
--- a/static/templates/settings/default-streams-list-admin.handlebars
+++ b/static/templates/settings/default-streams-list-admin.handlebars
@@ -9,11 +9,14 @@
 <table class="table table-condensed table-striped">
   <tbody id="admin_default_streams_table" class="admin_default_stream_table">
     <th>{{t "Name" }}</th>
-    <th class="actions">{{t "Actions" }}</th>
+    {{#if is_admin}}
+        <th class="actions">{{t "Actions" }}</th>
+    {{/if}}
   </tbody>
 </table>
 
 <div id="admin_page_default_streams_loading_indicator"></div>
+{{#if is_admin}}
   <form class="form-horizontal default-stream-form">
     <div class="add-new-default-stream-box grey-bg green-bg">
       <div class="new-default-stream-section-title">{{t "Add new default stream" }}</div>
@@ -23,4 +26,5 @@
       </div>
     </div>
   </form>
+{{/if}}
 </div>
diff --git a/templates/zerver/settings_overlay.html b/templates/zerver/settings_overlay.html
index 72c8c3863c..7f3a72f19b 100644
--- a/templates/zerver/settings_overlay.html
+++ b/templates/zerver/settings_overlay.html
@@ -67,10 +67,12 @@
                     <i class="icon icon-vector-exchange"></i>
                     <div class="text">{{ _('Delete streams') }}</div>
                 </li>
+                {% endif %}
                 <li class="admin" tabindex="1" data-section="default-streams-list">
                     <i class="icon icon-vector-exchange"></i>
                     <div class="text">{{ _('Default streams') }}</div>
                 </li>
+                {% if is_admin %}
                 <li class="admin" tabindex="1" data-section="filter-settings">
                     <i class="icon icon-vector-font"></i>
                     <div class="text">{{ _('Filter settings') }}</div>