diff --git a/mod/forum/lib.php b/mod/forum/lib.php
index 40633b7ef08..ef99acc00d7 100644
--- a/mod/forum/lib.php
+++ b/mod/forum/lib.php
@@ -7416,7 +7416,7 @@ function forum_get_posts_by_user($user, array $courses, $musthaveaccess = false,
 
             // Check whether the requested user is enrolled or has access to view the course
             // if they don't we immediately have a problem.
-            if (!can_access_course($course, $user)) {
+            if (!can_access_course($course, $user) && !is_enrolled($coursecontext, $user)) {
                 if ($musthaveaccess) {
                     print_error('notenrolled', 'forum');
                 }