diff --git a/cli/koji_cli/commands.py b/cli/koji_cli/commands.py
index d94209d1..c1f46472 100644
--- a/cli/koji_cli/commands.py
+++ b/cli/koji_cli/commands.py
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ def handle_remove_group(goptions, session, args):
     group = args[1]
 
     activate_session(session, goptions)
-    if not session.hasPerm('admin'):
-        error(_("This action requires admin privileges"))
+    if not (session.hasPerm('admin') or session.hasPerm('tag')):
+        parser.error(_("This action requires tag or admin privileges"))
 
     dsttag = session.getTag(tag)
     if not dsttag:
diff --git a/tests/test_cli/test_remove_group.py b/tests/test_cli/test_remove_group.py
index d478479e..43147377 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli/test_remove_group.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli/test_remove_group.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class TestRemoveGroup(utils.CliTestCase):
         session.getTag.return_value = None
 
         with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
-            rv = handle_remove_group(options, session, arguments)
+            handle_remove_group(options, session, arguments)
 
         # assert that things were called as we expected.
         activate_session_mock.assert_called_once_with(session, options)
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class TestRemoveGroup(utils.CliTestCase):
         session.getTagGroups.return_value = []
 
         with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
-            rv = handle_remove_group(options, session, arguments)
+            handle_remove_group(options, session, arguments)
 
         # assert that things were called as we expected.
         activate_session_mock.assert_called_once_with(session, options)
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ class TestRemoveGroup(utils.CliTestCase):
                 stderr=expected,
                 activate_session=None)
 
-        # if we don't have 'admin' permission
+        # if we don't have 'tag' permission
         session.hasPerm.return_value = False
         with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):
-            rv = handle_remove_group(options, session, ['tag', 'grp'])
+            handle_remove_group(options, session, ['tag', 'grp'])
         activate_session_mock.assert_called_with(session, options)