diff --git a/webapp_search.py b/webapp_search.py
index 31d03f1af..3b2c808df 100644
--- a/webapp_search.py
+++ b/webapp_search.py
@@ -156,13 +156,14 @@ def _htmlSearchResultSharePage(actor: str, domainFull: str,
     return sharedItemsForm
 
 
-def _htmlSharesResult(sharesJson: {}, pageNumber: int, resultsPerPage: int,
+def _htmlSharesResult(baseDir: str,
+                      sharesJson: {}, pageNumber: int, resultsPerPage: int,
                       searchStrLowerList: [], currPage: int, ctr: int,
                       callingDomain: str, httpPrefix: str, domainFull: str,
                       contactNickname: str, actor: str,
                       resultsExist: bool, searchStrLower: str,
                       translate: {}) -> (bool, int, int, str):
-    """
+    """Result for shared items search
     """
     sharedItemsForm = ''
     if currPage > pageNumber:
@@ -173,7 +174,7 @@ def _htmlSharesResult(sharesJson: {}, pageNumber: int, resultsPerPage: int,
             if currPage == pageNumber:
                 # show individual search result
                 sharedItemsForm += \
-                    htmlSearchResultShare(sharedItem, translate,
+                    htmlSearchResultShare(baseDir, sharedItem, translate,
                                           httpPrefix, domainFull,
                                           contactNickname,
                                           name, actor)
@@ -247,7 +248,7 @@ def htmlSearchSharedItems(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
                 continue
 
             (resultsExist, currPage, ctr,
-             resultStr) = _htmlSharesResult(sharesJson, pageNumber,
+             resultStr) = _htmlSharesResult(baseDir, sharesJson, pageNumber,
                                             resultsPerPage,
                                             searchStrLowerList,
                                             currPage, ctr,
@@ -280,7 +281,8 @@ def htmlSearchSharedItems(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
                     continue
 
                 (resultsExist, currPage, ctr,
-                 resultStr) = _htmlSharesResult(sharesJson, pageNumber,
+                 resultStr) = _htmlSharesResult(baseDir, sharesJson,
+                                                pageNumber,
                                                 resultsPerPage,
                                                 searchStrLowerList,
                                                 currPage, ctr,
diff --git a/webapp_utils.py b/webapp_utils.py
index 49c2970d3..c7c360f61 100644
--- a/webapp_utils.py
+++ b/webapp_utils.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from cache import storePersonInCache
 from content import addHtmlTags
 from content import replaceEmojiFromTags
 from person import getPersonAvatarUrl
+from posts import isModerator
 
 
 def getBrokenLinkSubstitute() -> str:
@@ -1253,7 +1254,7 @@ def editTextArea(label: str, name: str, value: str = "",
     return text
 
 
-def htmlSearchResultShare(sharedItem: {}, translate: {},
+def htmlSearchResultShare(baseDir: str, sharedItem: {}, translate: {},
                           httpPrefix: str, domainFull: str,
                           contactNickname: str, name: str,
                           actor: str) -> str:
@@ -1298,7 +1299,21 @@ def htmlSearchResultShare(sharedItem: {}, translate: {},
         '<p><a href="' + actor + '?replydm=sharedesc:' + \
         sharedItem['displayName'] + '?mention=' + contactActor + \
         '"><button class="button">' + translate['Contact'] + '</button></a>\n'
+
+    # should the remove button be shown?
+    showRemoveButton = False
+    nickname = getNicknameFromActor(actor)
     if actor.endswith('/users/' + contactNickname):
+        showRemoveButton = True
+    elif isModerator(baseDir, nickname):
+        showRemoveButton = True
+    else:
+        adminNickname = getConfigParam(baseDir, 'admin')
+        if adminNickname:
+            if actor.endswith('/users/' + adminNickname):
+                showRemoveButton = True
+
+    if showRemoveButton:
         sharedItemsForm += \
             ' <a href="' + actor + '?rmshare=' + \
             name + '"><button class="button">' + \
@@ -1370,7 +1385,7 @@ def htmlShowShare(baseDir: str, domain: str, nickname: str,
         'src="/users/' + nickname + '/' + bannerFile + '" /></a>\n' + \
         '</header><br>\n'
     shareStr += \
-        htmlSearchResultShare(sharedItem, translate, httpPrefix,
+        htmlSearchResultShare(baseDir, sharedItem, translate, httpPrefix,
                               domainFull, contactNickname, itemID,
                               actor)