diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/tests.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/tests.py
index 34ede494d7..bbb3c3d13a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/tests.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/tests.py
@@ -422,7 +422,13 @@ class ViewsTestCase(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase, MockRequestSetupMixin):
             data={"body": updated_body}
         )
 
-    def test_flag_thread(self, mock_request):
+    def test_flag_thread_open(self, mock_request):
+        self.flag_thread(mock_request, False)
+
+    def test_flag_thread_close(self, mock_request):
+        self.flag_thread(mock_request, True)
+
+    def flag_thread(self, mock_request, is_closed):
         mock_request.return_value.status_code = 200
         self._set_mock_request_data(mock_request, {
             "title": "Hello",
@@ -434,7 +440,7 @@ class ViewsTestCase(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase, MockRequestSetupMixin):
             "created_at": "2013-05-10T18:53:43Z",
             "updated_at": "2013-05-10T18:53:43Z",
             "at_position_list": [],
-            "closed": False,
+            "closed": is_closed,
             "id": "518d4237b023791dca00000d",
             "user_id": "1","username": "robot",
             "votes": {
@@ -490,7 +496,13 @@ class ViewsTestCase(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase, MockRequestSetupMixin):
 
         assert_equal(response.status_code, 200)
 
-    def test_un_flag_thread(self, mock_request):
+    def test_un_flag_thread_open(self, mock_request):
+        self.un_flag_thread(mock_request, False)
+
+    def test_un_flag_thread_close(self, mock_request):
+        self.un_flag_thread(mock_request, True)
+
+    def un_flag_thread(self, mock_request, is_closed):
         mock_request.return_value.status_code = 200
         self._set_mock_request_data(mock_request, {
             "title": "Hello",
@@ -502,7 +514,7 @@ class ViewsTestCase(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase, MockRequestSetupMixin):
             "created_at": "2013-05-10T18:53:43Z",
             "updated_at": "2013-05-10T18:53:43Z",
             "at_position_list": [],
-            "closed": False,
+            "closed": is_closed,
             "id": "518d4237b023791dca00000d",
             "user_id": "1",
             "username": "robot",
@@ -559,7 +571,13 @@ class ViewsTestCase(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase, MockRequestSetupMixin):
 
         assert_equal(response.status_code, 200)
 
-    def test_flag_comment(self, mock_request):
+    def test_flag_comment_open(self, mock_request):
+        self.flag_comment(mock_request, False)
+
+    def test_flag_comment_close(self, mock_request):
+        self.flag_comment(mock_request, True)
+
+    def flag_comment(self, mock_request, is_closed):
         mock_request.return_value.status_code = 200
         self._set_mock_request_data(mock_request, {
             "body": "this is a comment",
@@ -570,7 +588,7 @@ class ViewsTestCase(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase, MockRequestSetupMixin):
             "created_at": "2013-05-10T18:53:43Z",
             "updated_at": "2013-05-10T18:53:43Z",
             "at_position_list": [],
-            "closed": False,
+            "closed": is_closed,
             "id": "518d4237b023791dca00000d",
             "user_id": "1",
             "username": "robot",
@@ -622,7 +640,13 @@ class ViewsTestCase(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase, MockRequestSetupMixin):
 
         assert_equal(response.status_code, 200)
 
-    def test_un_flag_comment(self, mock_request):
+    def test_un_flag_comment_open(self, mock_request):
+        self.un_flag_comment(mock_request, False)
+
+    def test_un_flag_comment_close(self, mock_request):
+        self.un_flag_comment(mock_request, True)
+
+    def un_flag_comment(self, mock_request, is_closed):
         mock_request.return_value.status_code = 200
         self._set_mock_request_data(mock_request, {
             "body": "this is a comment",
@@ -633,7 +657,7 @@ class ViewsTestCase(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase, MockRequestSetupMixin):
             "created_at": "2013-05-10T18:53:43Z",
             "updated_at": "2013-05-10T18:53:43Z",
             "at_position_list": [],
-            "closed": False,
+            "closed": is_closed,
             "id": "518d4237b023791dca00000d",
             "user_id": "1",
             "username": "robot",
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/permissions.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/permissions.py
index 0826e3d469..30d2639144 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/permissions.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/permissions.py
@@ -106,10 +106,10 @@ VIEW_PERMISSIONS = {
     'vote_for_comment': [['vote', 'is_open']],
     'undo_vote_for_comment': [['unvote', 'is_open']],
     'vote_for_thread': [['vote', 'is_open']],
-    'flag_abuse_for_thread': [['vote', 'is_open']],
-    'un_flag_abuse_for_thread': [['vote', 'is_open']],
-    'flag_abuse_for_comment': [['vote', 'is_open']],
-    'un_flag_abuse_for_comment': [['vote', 'is_open']],
+    'flag_abuse_for_thread': ['vote'],
+    'un_flag_abuse_for_thread': ['vote'],
+    'flag_abuse_for_comment': ['vote'],
+    'un_flag_abuse_for_comment': ['vote'],
     'undo_vote_for_thread': [['unvote', 'is_open']],
     'pin_thread': ['openclose_thread'],
     'un_pin_thread': ['openclose_thread'],