diff --git a/zerver/lib/actions.py b/zerver/lib/actions.py
index 2695384f72..4f66fe7d4c 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/actions.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from zerver.models import Realm, RealmEmoji, Stream, UserProfile, UserActivity,
     UserActivityInterval, get_active_user_dicts_in_realm, RealmAlias, \
     ScheduledJob, realm_filters_for_domain, RealmFilter
 from zerver.lib.avatar import get_avatar_url
+from guardian.shortcuts import assign_perm, remove_perm
 
 from django.db import transaction, IntegrityError
 from django.db.models import F, Q
@@ -1163,6 +1164,19 @@ def do_change_full_name(user_profile, full_name, log=True):
                   users=active_user_ids(user_profile.realm))
     tornado_callbacks.send_notification(notice)
 
+def do_change_is_admin(user_profile, is_admin):
+    if is_admin:
+        assign_perm('administer', user_profile, user_profile.realm)
+    else:
+        remove_perm('administer', user_profile, user_profile.realm)
+
+    notice = dict(event=dict(type="realm_user", op="update",
+                             person=dict(email=user_profile.email,
+                                         is_admin=is_admin)),
+                  users=active_user_ids(user_profile.realm))
+    tornado_callbacks.send_notification(notice)
+
+
 def do_make_stream_public(user_profile, realm, stream_name):
     stream_name = stream_name.strip()
     stream = get_stream(stream_name, realm)
diff --git a/zerver/tests.py b/zerver/tests.py
index d52921a178..4f0608e2a4 100644
--- a/zerver/tests.py
+++ b/zerver/tests.py
@@ -770,17 +770,28 @@ class PermissionTest(AuthedTestCase):
 
         # Giveth
         req = dict(is_admin=ujson.dumps(True))
-        result = self.client_patch('/json/users/othello@zulip.com', req)
+
+        events = []
+        with tornado_redirected_to_list(events):
+            result = self.client_patch('/json/users/othello@zulip.com', req)
         self.assert_json_success(result)
         admin_users = realm.get_admin_users()
         self.assertTrue(user in admin_users)
+        person = events[0]['event']['person']
+        self.assertEqual(person['email'], 'othello@zulip.com')
+        self.assertEqual(person['is_admin'], True)
 
         # Taketh away
         req = dict(is_admin=ujson.dumps(False))
-        result = self.client_patch('/json/users/othello@zulip.com', req)
+        events = []
+        with tornado_redirected_to_list(events):
+            result = self.client_patch('/json/users/othello@zulip.com', req)
         self.assert_json_success(result)
         admin_users = realm.get_admin_users()
         self.assertFalse(user in admin_users)
+        person = events[0]['event']['person']
+        self.assertEqual(person['email'], 'othello@zulip.com')
+        self.assertEqual(person['is_admin'], False)
 
         # Make sure only admins can patch other user's info.
         self.login('othello@zulip.com')
diff --git a/zerver/views/__init__.py b/zerver/views/__init__.py
index 8bd3427ccc..f6e029a4c0 100644
--- a/zerver/views/__init__.py
+++ b/zerver/views/__init__.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from zerver.models import Message, UserProfile, Stream, Subscription, \
     split_email_to_domain, resolve_email_to_domain, email_to_username, get_realm, \
     completely_open, get_active_user_dicts_in_realm, remote_user_to_email
 from zerver.lib.actions import bulk_remove_subscriptions, do_change_password, \
-    do_change_full_name, do_change_enable_desktop_notifications, \
+    do_change_full_name, do_change_enable_desktop_notifications, do_change_is_admin, \
     do_change_enter_sends, do_change_enable_sounds, do_activate_user, do_create_user, \
     do_change_subscription_property, internal_send_message, \
     create_stream_if_needed, gather_subscriptions, \
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ from zerver.lib.queue import queue_json_publish
 from zerver.lib.utils import statsd, generate_random_token, statsd_key
 from zerver import tornado_callbacks
 from zproject.backends import password_auth_enabled
-from guardian.shortcuts import assign_perm, remove_perm
+from guardian.shortcuts import assign_perm
 
 from confirmation.models import Confirmation
 
@@ -1700,10 +1700,7 @@ def update_user_backend(request, user_profile, email,
         return json_error('Insufficient permission')
 
     if is_admin is not None:
-        if is_admin:
-            assign_perm('administer', target, target.realm)
-        else:
-            remove_perm('administer', target, target.realm)
+        do_change_is_admin(target, is_admin)
     return json_success({})
 
 @require_realm_admin