diff --git a/lib/models.py b/lib/models.py
index 856f0ae..53a0c86 100644
--- a/lib/models.py
+++ b/lib/models.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import logging
 import struct
 
 from google.appengine.api import channel
+from google.appengine.api import users
 from google.appengine.ext import db
 
 import utils
@@ -49,6 +50,8 @@ class Profile(db.Model):
 
   _cache = {}
 
+  ADMIN_KEY = db.Key.from_path('Profile', 'admin')
+
   @classmethod
   @db.transactional()
   def FindOrCreate(cls, google_user):
@@ -125,12 +128,18 @@ class Subject(db.Model):
   @classmethod
   def FindOrCreate(cls, subject):
     if 'readable_only_by' in subject:
-      readable_only_by = db.Key(subject['readable_only_by'])
+      if subject['readable_only_by'] == 'admin':
+        readable_only_by = Profile.ADMIN_KEY
+      else:
+        readable_only_by = db.Key(subject['readable_only_by'])
     else:
       readable_only_by = None
 
     if 'writable_only_by' in subject:
-      writable_only_by = db.Key(subject['writable_only_by'])
+      if subject['writable_only_by'] == 'admin':
+        writable_only_by = Profile.ADMIN_KEY
+      else:
+        writable_only_by = db.Key(subject['writable_only_by'])
     else:
       writable_only_by = None
 
@@ -213,13 +222,15 @@ class Subject(db.Model):
 
   def VerifyWritable(self, sender):
     writable_only_by = Subject.writable_only_by.get_value_for_datastore(self)
-    if (writable_only_by and
+    if (not users.is_current_user_admin() and
+        writable_only_by and
         writable_only_by != sender):
       raise AccessDenied
 
   def VerifyReadable(self, reader):
     readable_only_by = Subject.readable_only_by.get_value_for_datastore(self)
-    if (readable_only_by and
+    if (not users.is_current_user_admin() and
+        readable_only_by and
         readable_only_by != reader):
       raise AccessDenied
 
@@ -294,10 +305,16 @@ class Subject(db.Model):
     }
     readable_only_by = Subject.readable_only_by.get_value_for_datastore(self)
     if readable_only_by:
-      ret['readable_only_by'] = str(readable_only_by)
+      if readable_only_by == Profile.ADMIN_KEY:
+        ret['readable_only_by'] = 'admin'
+      else:
+        ret['readable_only_by'] = str(readable_only_by)
     writable_only_by = Subject.writable_only_by.get_value_for_datastore(self)
     if writable_only_by:
-      ret['writable_only_by'] = str(writable_only_by)
+      if writable_only_by == Profile.ADMIN_KEY:
+        ret['writable_only_by'] = 'admin'
+      else:
+        ret['writable_only_by'] = str(writable_only_by)
     return ret
 
   @db.transactional()
diff --git a/static/test.js b/static/test.js
index ac1fda0..c82671a 100644
--- a/static/test.js
+++ b/static/test.js
@@ -629,3 +629,70 @@ asyncTest('Two channels, one client', function() {
     });
   });
 });
+
+asyncTest('subscribe admin ACL', function() {
+  expect(2);
+
+  var subject = randstring();
+
+  logout(function() {
+    var callbacks = {
+      'onLogin': function() {
+        cosmo.subscribe({
+          'name': subject,
+          'readable_only_by': 'admin'
+        }).then(function() {
+          ok(true, 'logged in succeeds');
+
+          cosmo.shutdown();
+          start();
+        });
+      }
+    };
+    var cosmo = new Cosmopolite(callbacks, null, randstring());
+    cosmo.subscribe({
+      'name': subject,
+      'readable_only_by': 'admin'
+    }).then(null, function() {
+      ok(true, 'logged out fails');
+
+      window.open(
+          '/_ah/login?email=test%40example.com&admin=True&action=Login' +
+          '&continue=/cosmopolite/static/login_complete.html');
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+asyncTest('sendMessage admin ACL', function() {
+  expect(2);
+
+  var subject = randstring();
+  var message = randstring();
+
+  logout(function() {
+    var callbacks = {
+      'onLogin': function() {
+        cosmo.sendMessage({
+          'name': subject,
+          'writable_only_by': 'admin'
+        }, message).then(function() {
+          ok(true, 'logged in succeeds');
+
+          cosmo.shutdown();
+          start();
+        });
+      }
+    };
+    var cosmo = new Cosmopolite(callbacks, null, randstring());
+    cosmo.sendMessage({
+      'name': subject,
+      'writable_only_by': 'admin'
+    }, message).then(null, function() {
+      ok(true, 'logged out fails');
+
+      window.open(
+          '/_ah/login?email=test%40example.com&admin=True&action=Login' +
+          '&continue=/cosmopolite/static/login_complete.html');
+    });
+  });
+});