diff --git a/code/modules/art/paintings.dm b/code/modules/art/paintings.dm
index 340d4ca7723..5e1c44bec85 100644
--- a/code/modules/art/paintings.dm
+++ b/code/modules/art/paintings.dm
@@ -175,8 +175,9 @@
 	if(.)
 		return
 	var/mob/user = usr
-	///this is here to allow observers and viewers to zoom in and out regardless of adjacency.
-	if(action != "zoom_in" && action != "zoom_out" && !can_interact(user))
+	//this is here to allow observers and viewers to zoom in and out regardless of adjacency.
+	//observers need this special check because we allow them to operate the UI in ui_state
+	if((action != "zoom_in" && action != "zoom_out") && (isobserver(user) || !can_interact(user)))
 		return
 	switch(action)
 		if("paint", "fill")