diff --git a/packages/backend/src/core/SignupService.ts b/packages/backend/src/core/SignupService.ts
index 7250d1c24d..78b97401fd 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/core/SignupService.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/core/SignupService.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export class SignupService {
 		host?: string | null;
 		reason?: string | null;
 		ignorePreservedUsernames?: boolean;
+		approved?: boolean;
 	}) {
 		const { username, password, passwordHash, host, reason } = opts;
 		let hash = passwordHash;
@@ -115,9 +116,6 @@ export class SignupService {
 			));
 
 		let account!: MiUser;
-		let defaultApproval = false;
-
-		if (!this.meta.approvalRequiredForSignup) defaultApproval = true;
 
 		// Start transaction
 		await this.db.transaction(async transactionalEntityManager => {
@@ -135,7 +133,7 @@ export class SignupService {
 				host: this.utilityService.toPunyNullable(host),
 				token: secret,
 				isRoot: isTheFirstUser,
-				approved: defaultApproval,
+				approved: opts.approved ?? !this.meta.approvalRequiredForSignup,
 				signupReason: reason,
 			}));
 
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/server/api/endpoints/admin/accounts/create.ts b/packages/backend/src/server/api/endpoints/admin/accounts/create.ts
index a7e8a3b018..3cb4029780 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/server/api/endpoints/admin/accounts/create.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/server/api/endpoints/admin/accounts/create.ts
@@ -3,16 +3,15 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
  */
 
-import { Inject, Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
-import { IsNull } from 'typeorm';
+import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { Endpoint } from '@/server/api/endpoint-base.js';
-import type { UsersRepository } from '@/models/_.js';
+import { MiUser } from '@/models/_.js';
 import { SignupService } from '@/core/SignupService.js';
 import { UserEntityService } from '@/core/entities/UserEntityService.js';
 import { InstanceActorService } from '@/core/InstanceActorService.js';
 import { localUsernameSchema, passwordSchema } from '@/models/User.js';
-import { DI } from '@/di-symbols.js';
 import { Packed } from '@/misc/json-schema.js';
+import { RoleService } from '@/core/RoleService.js';
 
 export const meta = {
 	tags: ['admin'],
@@ -42,22 +41,21 @@ export const paramDef = {
 @Injectable()
 export default class extends Endpoint<typeof meta, typeof paramDef> { // eslint-disable-line import/no-default-export
 	constructor(
-		@Inject(DI.usersRepository)
-		private usersRepository: UsersRepository,
-
+		private roleService: RoleService,
 		private userEntityService: UserEntityService,
 		private signupService: SignupService,
 		private instanceActorService: InstanceActorService,
 	) {
-		super(meta, paramDef, async (ps, _me, token) => {
-			const me = _me ? await this.usersRepository.findOneByOrFail({ id: _me.id }) : null;
-			const realUsers = await this.instanceActorService.realLocalUsersPresent();
-			if ((realUsers && !me?.isRoot) || token !== null) throw new Error('access denied');
+		super(meta, paramDef, async (ps, _me) => {
+			if (!await this.canCreate(_me)) {
+				throw new Error('access denied');
+			}
 
 			const { account, secret } = await this.signupService.signup({
 				username: ps.username,
 				password: ps.password,
 				ignorePreservedUsernames: true,
+				approved: true,
 			});
 
 			const res = await this.userEntityService.pack(account, account, {
@@ -70,4 +68,14 @@ export default class extends Endpoint<typeof meta, typeof paramDef> { // eslint-
 			return res;
 		});
 	}
+
+	private async canCreate(me: MiUser | null): Promise<boolean> {
+		// Allow the first user to be created without authentication, as part of normal setup flow
+		if (!me) {
+			return !await this.instanceActorService.realLocalUsersPresent();
+		}
+
+		// Administrators (including root) can always create users
+		return await this.roleService.isAdministrator(me);
+	}
 }