diff --git a/app/gen-server/lib/Housekeeper.ts b/app/gen-server/lib/Housekeeper.ts
index 0b735229..fb1aff93 100644
--- a/app/gen-server/lib/Housekeeper.ts
+++ b/app/gen-server/lib/Housekeeper.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,16 @@ export class Housekeeper {
         headers,
       });
     }));
+
+    // Move a document to its assigned worker.  Can be useful during administrative
+    // actions.
+    app.post('/api/housekeeping/docs/:docId/assign', this._withSupport(async (docId, headers) => {
+      const url = await this._server.getHomeUrlByDocId(docId, `/api/docs/${docId}/assign`);
+      return fetch(url, {
+        method: 'POST',
+        headers,
+      });
+    }));
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/app/server/lib/DocApi.ts b/app/server/lib/DocApi.ts
index 7c5cc0c7..899df3ef 100644
--- a/app/server/lib/DocApi.ts
+++ b/app/server/lib/DocApi.ts
@@ -132,8 +132,6 @@ export class DocWorkerApi {
     const isOwner = expressWrap(this._assertAccess.bind(this, 'owners', false));
     // check user can edit document, with soft-deleted documents being acceptable
     const canEditMaybeRemoved = expressWrap(this._assertAccess.bind(this, 'editors', true));
-    // check document exists, don't check user access
-    const docExists = expressWrap(this._assertAccess.bind(this, null, false));
     // converts google code to access token and adds it to request object
     const decodeGoogleToken = expressWrap(googleAuthTokenMiddleware.bind(null));
 
@@ -581,7 +579,7 @@ export class DocWorkerApi {
     // and frees it for reassignment if not.  Has no effect if document is in the
     // expected group.  Does not require specific rights.  Returns true if the document
     // is freed up for reassignment, otherwise false.
-    this._app.post('/api/docs/:docId/assign', docExists, throttled(async (req, res) => {
+    this._app.post('/api/docs/:docId/assign', canEdit, throttled(async (req, res) => {
       const docId = getDocId(req);
       const status = await this._docWorkerMap.getDocWorker(docId);
       if (!status) { res.json(false); return; }