diff --git a/synapse/handlers/profile.py b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
index d9ac09078d..87f74dfb8e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/profile.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
@@ -65,13 +65,13 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
                 defer.returnValue(result["displayname"])
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def set_displayname(self, target_user, requester, new_displayname):
+    def set_displayname(self, target_user, requester, new_displayname, by_admin=False):
         """target_user is the user whose displayname is to be changed;
         auth_user is the user attempting to make this change."""
         if not self.hs.is_mine(target_user):
             raise SynapseError(400, "User is not hosted on this Home Server")
 
-        if target_user != requester.user:
+        if not by_admin and target_user != requester.user:
             raise AuthError(400, "Cannot set another user's displayname")
 
         if new_displayname == '':
@@ -111,13 +111,13 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
             defer.returnValue(result["avatar_url"])
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def set_avatar_url(self, target_user, requester, new_avatar_url):
+    def set_avatar_url(self, target_user, requester, new_avatar_url, by_admin=False):
         """target_user is the user whose avatar_url is to be changed;
         auth_user is the user attempting to make this change."""
         if not self.hs.is_mine(target_user):
             raise SynapseError(400, "User is not hosted on this Home Server")
 
-        if target_user != requester.user:
+        if not by_admin and target_user != requester.user:
             raise AuthError(400, "Cannot set another user's avatar_url")
 
         yield self.store.set_profile_avatar_url(