diff --git a/clientapi/routing/membership.go b/clientapi/routing/membership.go
index bc679631a..cba938140 100644
--- a/clientapi/routing/membership.go
+++ b/clientapi/routing/membership.go
@@ -47,6 +47,37 @@ func SendBan(
 	if reqErr != nil {
 		return *reqErr
 	}
+
+	errRes := checkMemberInRoom(req.Context(), rsAPI, device.UserID, roomID)
+	if errRes != nil {
+		return *errRes
+	}
+
+	plEvent := roomserverAPI.GetStateEvent(req.Context(), rsAPI, roomID, gomatrixserverlib.StateKeyTuple{
+		EventType: gomatrixserverlib.MRoomPowerLevels,
+		StateKey: "",
+	})
+	if plEvent == nil {
+		return util.JSONResponse{
+			Code: 403,
+			JSON: jsonerror.Forbidden("You don't have permission to ban this user, no power_levels event in this room."),
+		}
+	}
+	pl, err :=  plEvent.PowerLevels()
+	if err != nil {
+		return util.JSONResponse{
+			Code: 403,
+			JSON: jsonerror.Forbidden("You don't have permission to ban this user, the power_levels event for this room is malformed so auth checks cannot be performed."),
+		}
+	}
+	allowedToBan := pl.UserLevel(device.UserID) >= pl.Ban
+	if !allowedToBan {
+		return util.JSONResponse{
+			Code: 403,
+			JSON: jsonerror.Forbidden("You don't have permission to ban this user, power level too low."),
+		}
+	}
+
 	return sendMembership(req.Context(), accountDB, device, roomID, "ban", body.Reason, cfg, body.UserID, evTime, roomVer, rsAPI, asAPI)
 }