diff --git a/DeckPersonalisationApi/Controllers/SubmissionController.cs b/DeckPersonalisationApi/Controllers/SubmissionController.cs
index 4df9195..0a34d9b 100644
--- a/DeckPersonalisationApi/Controllers/SubmissionController.cs
+++ b/DeckPersonalisationApi/Controllers/SubmissionController.cs
@@ -195,7 +195,9 @@ public IActionResult DenyThemeSubmission(string id, MessageDto messageDto)
 
     private void ValidateMeta(User user, SubmissionMeta meta, ThemeType type)
     {
-        CheckIfUserIsAllowedToMakeSubmission(user);
+        if (!meta.PrivateSubmission)
+            CheckIfUserIsAllowedToMakeSubmission(user);
+        
         CheckImageBlobs(user, meta.ImageBlobs);
         ValidateMetaDescription(meta.Description);