diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index 50a37de584..abf2879888 100755
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -660,6 +660,7 @@ class FakeGithubPullRequest(object):
         self.statuses = {}
         self.reviews = []
         self.writers = []
+        self.admins = []
         self.updated_at = None
         self.head_sha = None
         self.is_merged = False
@@ -1063,7 +1064,9 @@ class FakeGithubConnection(githubconnection.GithubConnection):
         for pr in self.pull_requests.values():
             pr_owner, pr_project = pr.project.split('/')
             if (pr_owner == owner and proj == pr_project):
-                if login in pr.writers:
+                if login in pr.admins:
+                    return 'admin'
+                elif login in pr.writers:
                     return 'write'
                 else:
                     return 'read'
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_github_requirements.py b/tests/unit/test_github_requirements.py
index f125d1e4ac..c32f07e99e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_github_requirements.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_github_requirements.py
@@ -252,6 +252,33 @@ class TestGithubRequirements(ZuulTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(len(self.history), 1)
         self.assertEqual(self.history[0].name, 'project5-reviewuserstate')
 
+    @simple_layout('layouts/requirements-github.yaml', driver='github')
+    def test_pipeline_require_review_write_perms(self):
+        "Test pipeline requirement: review from user with write"
+
+        A = self.fake_github.openFakePullRequest('org/project4', 'master', 'A')
+        # Add herp to admins
+        A.admins.append('herp')
+        # A comment event that we will keep submitting to trigger
+        comment = A.getCommentAddedEvent('test me')
+        self.fake_github.emitEvent(comment)
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+        # No positive review from derp so should not be enqueued
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.history), 0)
+
+        # The first review is from a reader, and thus should not be enqueued
+        A.addReview('derp', 'APPROVED')
+        self.fake_github.emitEvent(comment)
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.history), 0)
+
+        # A positive review from herp should cause it to be enqueued
+        A.addReview('herp', 'APPROVED')
+        self.fake_github.emitEvent(comment)
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.history), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(self.history[0].name, 'project4-reviewreq')
+
     @simple_layout('layouts/requirements-github.yaml', driver='github')
     def test_pipeline_require_review_comment_masked(self):
         "Test pipeline requirement: review comments on top of votes"
diff --git a/zuul/driver/github/githubmodel.py b/zuul/driver/github/githubmodel.py
index 0731dd7338..3b0618f96b 100644
--- a/zuul/driver/github/githubmodel.py
+++ b/zuul/driver/github/githubmodel.py
@@ -110,10 +110,15 @@ class GithubCommonFilter(object):
                     return False
             elif k == 'permission':
                 # If permission is read, we've matched. You must have read
-                # to provide a review. Write or admin permission is different.
+                # to provide a review.
                 if v != 'read':
-                    if review['permission'] != v:
-                        return False
+                    # Admins have implicit write.
+                    if v == 'write':
+                        if review['permission'] not in ('write', 'admin'):
+                            return False
+                    elif v == 'admin':
+                        if review['permission'] != 'admin':
+                            return False
         return True
 
     def matchesReviews(self, change):