diff --git a/include/like.php b/include/like.php
index 8b8759c2f6..793ea04215 100644
--- a/include/like.php
+++ b/include/like.php
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ function do_like($item_id, $verb) {
 		$uid = local_user();
 	}
 
-	if (!can_write_wall($a, $uid)) {
+	if (!can_write_wall($uid)) {
 		logger('like: unable to write on wall ' . $uid);
 		return false;
 	}
diff --git a/include/security.php b/include/security.php
index c443586c25..3cdfb4f28d 100644
--- a/include/security.php
+++ b/include/security.php
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ function authenticate_success($user_record, $login_initial = false, $interactive
 	}
 }
 
-function can_write_wall(App $a, $owner)
+function can_write_wall($owner)
 {
 	static $verified = 0;
 
@@ -174,8 +174,7 @@ function can_write_wall(App $a, $owner)
 	}
 
 	$uid = local_user();
-
-	if (($uid) && ($uid == $owner)) {
+	if ($uid == $owner) {
 		return true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/mod/item.php b/mod/item.php
index 1faef96016..feb0496a36 100644
--- a/mod/item.php
+++ b/mod/item.php
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ function item_post(App $a) {
 	 * Now check that it is a page_type of PAGE_BLOG, and that valid personal details
 	 * have been provided, and run any anti-spam plugins
 	 */
-	if (!(can_write_wall($a, $profile_uid) || $allow_comment) && !$allow_moderated) {
+	if (!(can_write_wall($profile_uid) || $allow_comment) && !$allow_moderated) {
 		notice(t('Permission denied.') . EOL) ;
 		if (x($_REQUEST, 'return')) {
 			goaway($return_path);
diff --git a/mod/photos.php b/mod/photos.php
index 54cfd7d4f7..ab0ad75013 100644
--- a/mod/photos.php
+++ b/mod/photos.php
@@ -1499,7 +1499,7 @@ function photos_content(App $a)
 			$tpl = get_markup_template('photo_item.tpl');
 			$return_url = $a->cmd;
 
-			if ($can_post || can_write_wall($a, $owner_uid)) {
+			if ($can_post || can_write_wall($owner_uid)) {
 				$like_tpl = get_markup_template('like_noshare.tpl');
 				$likebuttons = replace_macros($like_tpl, array(
 					'$id' => $link_item['id'],
@@ -1511,7 +1511,7 @@ function photos_content(App $a)
 			}
 
 			if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
-				if (($can_post || can_write_wall($a, $owner_uid)) && $link_item['last-child']) {
+				if (($can_post || can_write_wall($owner_uid)) && $link_item['last-child']) {
 					$comments .= replace_macros($cmnt_tpl, array(
 						'$return_path' => '',
 						'$jsreload' => $return_url,
@@ -1550,7 +1550,7 @@ function photos_content(App $a)
 					$dislike = format_like($conv_responses['dislike'][$link_item['uri']], $conv_responses['dislike'][$link_item['uri'] . '-l'], 'dislike', $link_item['id']);
 				}
 
-				if (($can_post || can_write_wall($a, $owner_uid)) && $link_item['last-child']) {
+				if (($can_post || can_write_wall($owner_uid)) && $link_item['last-child']) {
 					$comments .= replace_macros($cmnt_tpl,array(
 						'$return_path' => '',
 						'$jsreload' => $return_url,
@@ -1623,7 +1623,7 @@ function photos_content(App $a)
 						'$comment' => $comment
 					));
 
-					if (($can_post || can_write_wall($a, $owner_uid)) && $item['last-child']) {
+					if (($can_post || can_write_wall($owner_uid)) && $item['last-child']) {
 						$comments .= replace_macros($cmnt_tpl, array(
 							'$return_path' => '',
 							'$jsreload' => $return_url,
diff --git a/mod/profile.php b/mod/profile.php
index bebd284030..ce2c5348d9 100644
--- a/mod/profile.php
+++ b/mod/profile.php
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ function profile_content(App $a, $update = 0)
 		$a->page['aside'] .= categories_widget(System::baseUrl(true) . '/profile/' . $a->profile['nickname'], (x($category) ? xmlify($category) : ''));
 		$a->page['aside'] .= tagcloud_wall_widget();
 
-		if (can_write_wall($a, $a->profile['profile_uid'])) {
+		if (can_write_wall($a->profile['profile_uid'])) {
 			$x = array(
 				'is_owner' => $is_owner,
 				'allow_location' => ($is_owner || $commvisitor) && $a->profile['allow_location'],
diff --git a/mod/subthread.php b/mod/subthread.php
index a597b16987..9200c335e1 100644
--- a/mod/subthread.php
+++ b/mod/subthread.php
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function subthread_content(App $a) {
 
 	$owner_uid = $item['uid'];
 
-	if(! can_write_wall($a,$owner_uid)) {
+	if(! can_write_wall($owner_uid)) {
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/Object/Thread.php b/src/Object/Thread.php
index a03bae6e9d..534095efbb 100644
--- a/src/Object/Thread.php
+++ b/src/Object/Thread.php
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ class Thread extends BaseObject
 				break;
 			case 'profile':
 				$this->profile_owner = $a->profile['profile_uid'];
-				$this->writable = can_write_wall($a, $this->profile_owner);
+				$this->writable = can_write_wall($this->profile_owner);
 				break;
 			case 'display':
 				$this->profile_owner = $a->profile['uid'];
-				$this->writable = can_write_wall($a, $this->profile_owner) || $writable;
+				$this->writable = can_write_wall($this->profile_owner) || $writable;
 				break;
 			case 'community':
 				$this->profile_owner = local_user();