diff --git a/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/api/change/ChangeIT.java b/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/api/change/ChangeIT.java
index 3639d2ada6..b21d715268 100644
--- a/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/api/change/ChangeIT.java
+++ b/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/api/change/ChangeIT.java
@@ -2086,6 +2086,40 @@ public class ChangeIT extends AbstractDaemonTest {
     gApi.changes().id(r.getChangeId()).reviewer("self").remove();
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void removeReviewerSelfFromAbandonedChangePermitted() throws Exception {
+    PushOneCommit.Result r = createChange();
+    String changeId = r.getChangeId();
+
+    setApiUser(user);
+    recommend(changeId);
+
+    setApiUser(admin);
+    gApi.changes().id(changeId).abandon();
+
+    setApiUser(user);
+    gApi.changes().id(r.getChangeId()).reviewer("self").remove();
+    eventRecorder.assertReviewerDeletedEvents(changeId, user.email);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void removeOtherReviewerFromAbandonedChangeNotPermitted() throws Exception {
+    PushOneCommit.Result r = createChange();
+    String changeId = r.getChangeId();
+
+    setApiUser(user);
+    recommend(changeId);
+
+    setApiUser(admin);
+    approve(changeId);
+    gApi.changes().id(changeId).abandon();
+
+    setApiUser(user);
+    exception.expect(AuthException.class);
+    exception.expectMessage("remove reviewer not permitted");
+    gApi.changes().id(r.getChangeId()).reviewer(admin.getId().toString()).remove();
+  }
+
   @Test
   public void deleteVote() throws Exception {
     PushOneCommit.Result r = createChange();
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/RemoveReviewerControl.java b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/RemoveReviewerControl.java
index 29db1323e4..d4c0f53df2 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/RemoveReviewerControl.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/RemoveReviewerControl.java
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public class RemoveReviewerControl {
   private boolean canRemoveReviewerWithoutPermissionCheck(
       Change change, CurrentUser currentUser, Account.Id reviewer, int value)
       throws NoSuchProjectException, IOException {
-    if (!change.getStatus().isOpen()) {
+    if (change.getStatus().equals(Change.Status.MERGED)) {
       return false;
     }