diff --git a/backend/__tests__/api/controllers/ape-key.spec.ts b/backend/__tests__/api/controllers/ape-key.spec.ts
index 5f33d32fe..6061a4e99 100644
--- a/backend/__tests__/api/controllers/ape-key.spec.ts
+++ b/backend/__tests__/api/controllers/ape-key.spec.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const configuration = Configuration.getCachedConfiguration();
 const uid = new ObjectId().toHexString();
 
 describe("ApeKeyController", () => {
-  const getUserMock = vi.spyOn(UserDal, "getUser");
+  const getUserMock = vi.spyOn(UserDal, "getPartialUser");
 
   beforeEach(async () => {
     await enableApeKeysEndpoints(true);
diff --git a/backend/src/api/routes/ape-keys.ts b/backend/src/api/routes/ape-keys.ts
index 2038c887a..56cb0a465 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/routes/ape-keys.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/routes/ape-keys.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const commonMiddleware = [
     },
     invalidMessage: "ApeKeys are currently disabled.",
   }),
-  checkUserPermissions({
+  checkUserPermissions(["canManageApeKeys"], {
     criteria: (user) => {
       return user.canManageApeKeys ?? true;
     },
diff --git a/backend/src/api/routes/quotes.ts b/backend/src/api/routes/quotes.ts
index 19a4f7604..79784b5af 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/routes/quotes.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/routes/quotes.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { validateRequest } from "../../middlewares/validation";
 
 const router = Router();
 
-const checkIfUserIsQuoteMod = checkUserPermissions({
+const checkIfUserIsQuoteMod = checkUserPermissions(["quoteMod"], {
   criteria: (user) => {
     return (
       user.quoteMod === true ||
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ router.post(
       captcha: withCustomMessages.regex(/[\w-_]+/).required(),
     },
   }),
-  checkUserPermissions({
+  checkUserPermissions(["canReport"], {
     criteria: (user) => {
       return user.canReport !== false;
     },
diff --git a/backend/src/api/routes/users.ts b/backend/src/api/routes/users.ts
index 0b6d81ec2..1febadf8d 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/routes/users.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/routes/users.ts
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ router.post(
       captcha: withCustomMessages.regex(/[\w-_]+/).required(),
     },
   }),
-  checkUserPermissions({
+  checkUserPermissions(["canReport"], {
     criteria: (user) => {
       return user.canReport !== false;
     },
diff --git a/backend/src/middlewares/permission.ts b/backend/src/middlewares/permission.ts
index 7be634cee..cd10afad8 100644
--- a/backend/src/middlewares/permission.ts
+++ b/backend/src/middlewares/permission.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import _ from "lodash";
 import MonkeyError from "../utils/error";
 import type { Response, NextFunction, RequestHandler } from "express";
-import { getUser } from "../dal/user";
+import { getPartialUser } from "../dal/user";
 import { isAdmin } from "../dal/admin-uids";
 import type { ValidationOptions } from "./configuration";
 
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ export function checkIfUserIsAdmin(): RequestHandler {
  * Check user permissions before handling request.
  * Note that this middleware must be used after authentication in the middleware stack.
  */
-export function checkUserPermissions(
-  options: ValidationOptions<MonkeyTypes.DBUser>
+export function checkUserPermissions<K extends keyof MonkeyTypes.DBUser>(
+  fields: K[],
+  options: ValidationOptions<Pick<MonkeyTypes.DBUser, K>>
 ): RequestHandler {
   const { criteria, invalidMessage = "You don't have permission to do this." } =
     options;
@@ -48,7 +49,11 @@ export function checkUserPermissions(
     try {
       const { uid } = req.ctx.decodedToken;
 
-      const userData = await getUser(uid, "check user permissions");
+      const userData = await getPartialUser(
+        uid,
+        "check user permissions",
+        fields
+      );
       const hasPermission = criteria(userData);
 
       if (!hasPermission) {