diff --git a/files/helpers/const.py b/files/helpers/const.py
index b08b3e389..9e1a2860d 100644
--- a/files/helpers/const.py
+++ b/files/helpers/const.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ PERMS = { # Minimum admin_level to perform action.
 	'POST_TO_POLL_THREAD': 2,
 	'POST_BETS': 3,
 	'POST_BETS_DISTRIBUTE': 3, # probably should be the same as POST_BETS but w/e
-	'BYPASS_PIN_LIMIT': 3,
+	'BYPASS_PIN_LIMIT': 2,
 	'VIEW_PENDING_SUBMITTED_MARSEYS': 3,
 	'VIEW_PENDING_SUBMITTED_HATS': 3,
 	'MODERATE_PENDING_SUBMITTED_MARSEYS': 3, # note: there is an extra check so that only """carp""" can approve them
diff --git a/files/routes/admin.py b/files/routes/admin.py
index c49fb6912..22dc0e62e 100644
--- a/files/routes/admin.py
+++ b/files/routes/admin.py
@@ -1121,11 +1121,11 @@ def remove_post(post_id, v):
 	post = get_post(post_id)
 	post.is_banned = True
 	post.is_approved = None
+	post.stickied = None
+	post.is_pinned = False
 	post.ban_reason = v.username
 	g.db.add(post)
 
-	
-
 	ma=ModAction(
 		kind="ban_post",
 		user_id=v.id,
@@ -1205,9 +1205,8 @@ def distinguish_post(post_id, v):
 @admin_level_required(PERMS['POST_COMMENT_MODERATION'])
 @feature_required('PINS')
 def sticky_post(post_id, v):
-
 	post = get_post(post_id)
-
+	if post.is_banned: abort(403, "Can't sticky removed posts!")
 	if post.stickied.endswith('(pin award)'):
 		abort(403, "Can't pin award pins!")
 
diff --git a/files/routes/awards.py b/files/routes/awards.py
index b700509f3..eac872875 100644
--- a/files/routes/awards.py
+++ b/files/routes/awards.py
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ def award_thing(v, thing_type, id):
 		author.unban_utc = int(time.time()) + 30 * 86400
 		send_repeatable_notification(author.id, f"Your account has been banned permanently for {link}. You must [provide the admins](/contact) a timestamped picture of you touching grass/snow/sand/ass to get unbanned!")
 	elif kind == "pin":
-		if not FEATURES['PINS']:
-			abort(403)
+		if not FEATURES['PINS']: abort(403)
+		if thing.is_banned: abort(403)
 		if thing.stickied and thing.stickied_utc:
 			thing.stickied_utc += 3600
 		else:
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ def award_thing(v, thing_type, id):
 		g.db.add(thing)
 		cache.delete_memoized(frontlist)
 	elif kind == "unpin":
-		if not thing.stickied_utc: abort(403)
+		if not thing.stickied_utc: abort(400)
 		if thing.author_id == LAWLZ_ID and SITE_NAME == 'rDrama': abort(403, "You can't unpin lawlzposts!")
 
 		if thing_type == 'comment':