diff --git a/code/modules/admin/verbs/adminpm.dm b/code/modules/admin/verbs/adminpm.dm
index 263ad345191..ea90252bfe9 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/verbs/adminpm.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/verbs/adminpm.dm
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
 		//check client/X is an admin and isn't the sender or recipient
 		if(X == C || X == src)
 			continue
-		if(X.key != key && X.key != C.key && (X.holder.rights & R_ADMIN|R_MOD))
+		if(X.key != key && X.key != C.key && (X.holder.rights & (R_ADMIN|R_MOD)))
 			X << "<span class='pm'><span class='other'>" + create_text_tag("pm_other", "PM:", X) + " <span class='name'>[key_name(src, X, 0)]</span> to <span class='name'>[key_name(C, X, 0)]</span>: <span class='message'>[msg]</span></span></span>"
 
 /client/proc/cmd_admin_irc_pm(sender)
@@ -144,5 +144,5 @@
 	for(var/client/X in admins)
 		if(X == src)
 			continue
-		if(X.holder.rights & R_ADMIN|R_MOD)
+		if(X.holder.rights & (R_ADMIN|R_MOD))
 			X << "<span class='pm'><span class='other'>" + create_text_tag("pm_other", "PM:", X) + " <span class='name'>[key_name(src, X, 0)]</span> to <span class='name'>IRC-[sender]</span>: <span class='message'>[msg]</span></span></span>"