diff --git a/server/hook.go b/server/hook.go
index 0becc690c..ee50c3991 100644
--- a/server/hook.go
+++ b/server/hook.go
@@ -177,15 +177,15 @@ func PostHook(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if repo.IsGated { // This feature is not clear to me. Reenabling once better understood
-		build.Status = model.StatusBlocked
-	}
-
 	// update some build fields
 	build.RepoID = repo.ID
 	build.Verified = true
 	build.Status = model.StatusPending
 
+	if repo.IsGated && build.Sender != user.Login {
+		build.Status = model.StatusBlocked
+	}
+
 	err = store.CreateBuild(c, build, build.Procs...)
 	if err != nil {
 		logrus.Errorf("failure to save commit for %s. %s", repo.FullName, err)