diff --git a/backend/LexBoxApi/Services/PermissionService.cs b/backend/LexBoxApi/Services/PermissionService.cs
index e31dfb358..4758b75ec 100644
--- a/backend/LexBoxApi/Services/PermissionService.cs
+++ b/backend/LexBoxApi/Services/PermissionService.cs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ public bool CanSyncProject(Guid projectId)
         if (User is null) return false;
         if (User.Role == UserRole.admin) return true;
         if (User.Projects is null) return false;
-        return User.Projects.Any(p => p.ProjectId == projectId);
+        return User.IsProjectMember(projectId);
     }
 
     public async ValueTask<bool> CanSyncProjectAsync(Guid projectId)
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public async ValueTask<bool> CanViewProject(Guid projectId, LexAuthUser? overrid
     {
         var user = overrideUser ?? User;
         if (user is not null && user.Role == UserRole.admin) return true;
-        if (user is not null && user.Projects.Any(p => p.ProjectId == projectId)) return true;
+        if (user is not null && user.IsProjectMember(projectId)) return true;
         // Org admins can view all projects, even confidential ones
         if (await ManagesOrgThatOwnsProject(projectId)) return true;
         var isConfidential = await projectService.LookupProjectConfidentiality(projectId);
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ public async ValueTask<bool> CanViewProjectMembers(Guid projectId)
         if (User is not null && User.Role == UserRole.admin) return true;
         // Project managers can view members of their own projects, even confidential ones
         if (await CanManageProject(projectId)) return true;
+        // non members can't view project members
+        if (User?.IsProjectMember(projectId) != true) return false;
         var isConfidential = await projectService.LookupProjectConfidentiality(projectId);
         // In this specific case (only), we assume public unless explicitly set to private
         return !(isConfidential ?? false);
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@ public async ValueTask<bool> CanManageProject(Guid projectId)
     {
         if (User is null) return false;
         if (User.Role == UserRole.admin) return true;
-        if (User.Projects.Any(p => p.ProjectId == projectId && p.Role == ProjectRole.Manager)) return true;
+        if (User.IsProjectMember(projectId, ProjectRole.Manager)) return true;
         return await ManagesOrgThatOwnsProject(projectId);
     }
 
diff --git a/backend/LexCore/Auth/LexAuthUser.cs b/backend/LexCore/Auth/LexAuthUser.cs
index eb119f64b..85b94925f 100644
--- a/backend/LexCore/Auth/LexAuthUser.cs
+++ b/backend/LexCore/Auth/LexAuthUser.cs
@@ -234,6 +234,15 @@ public ClaimsPrincipal GetPrincipal(string authenticationType)
             LexAuthConstants.EmailClaimType,
             LexAuthConstants.RoleClaimType));
     }
+
+    public bool IsProjectMember(Guid projectId, ProjectRole? role = null)
+    {
+        if (role is not null)
+        {
+            return Projects.Any(p => p.ProjectId == projectId && p.Role == role);
+        }
+        return Projects.Any(p => p.ProjectId == projectId);
+    }
 }
 
 public record AuthUserProject(ProjectRole Role, Guid ProjectId);