diff --git a/zerver/lib/streams.py b/zerver/lib/streams.py
index ef8c54e1ff..e2739672f5 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/streams.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/streams.py
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ def list_to_streams(
     streams_raw: Collection[StreamDict],
     user_profile: UserProfile,
     autocreate: bool = False,
-    admin_access_required: bool = False,
+    unsubscribing_others: bool = False,
 ) -> Tuple[List[Stream], List[Stream]]:
     """Converts list of dicts to a list of Streams, validating input in the process
 
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ def list_to_streams(
     missing_stream_dicts: List[StreamDict] = []
     existing_stream_map = bulk_get_streams(user_profile.realm, stream_set)
 
-    if admin_access_required:
+    if unsubscribing_others:
         existing_recipient_ids = [stream.recipient_id for stream in existing_stream_map.values()]
         subs = Subscription.objects.filter(
             user_profile=user_profile, recipient_id__in=existing_recipient_ids, active=True
diff --git a/zerver/views/streams.py b/zerver/views/streams.py
index d301bddf60..351af47d2d 100644
--- a/zerver/views/streams.py
+++ b/zerver/views/streams.py
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ def remove_subscriptions_backend(
         streams_as_dict.append({"name": stream_name.strip()})
 
     streams, __ = list_to_streams(
-        streams_as_dict, user_profile, admin_access_required=removing_someone_else
+        streams_as_dict, user_profile, unsubscribing_others=removing_someone_else
     )
 
     if principals: