diff --git a/webclient/components/matrix/matrix-service.js b/webclient/components/matrix/matrix-service.js
index 18a484129..8a0223979 100644
--- a/webclient/components/matrix/matrix-service.js
+++ b/webclient/components/matrix/matrix-service.js
@@ -168,23 +168,20 @@ angular.module('matrixService', [])
         },
 
         // Change the membership of an another user
-        setMembership: function(room_id, user_id, membershipValue) {
-            return this.setMembershipObject(room_id, user_id, {
-                membership : membershipValue
-            });
-        },
-           
-        // Change the membership of an another user
-        setMembershipObject: function(room_id, user_id, membershipObject) {
+        setMembership: function(room_id, user_id, membershipValue, reason) {
+            
             // The REST path spec
             var path = "/rooms/$room_id/state/m.room.member/$user_id";
             path = path.replace("$room_id", encodeURIComponent(room_id));
             path = path.replace("$user_id", user_id);
 
-            return doRequest("PUT", path, undefined, membershipObject);
+            return doRequest("PUT", path, undefined, {
+                membership : membershipValue,
+                reason: reason
+            });
         },
            
-        // Bans a user from from a room
+        // Bans a user from a room
         ban: function(room_id, user_id, reason) {
             var path = "/rooms/$room_id/ban";
             path = path.replace("$room_id", encodeURIComponent(room_id));
@@ -194,7 +191,20 @@ angular.module('matrixService', [])
                 reason: reason
             });
         },
-
+        
+        // Unbans a user in a room
+        unban: function(room_id, user_id) {
+            // FIXME: To update when there will be homeserver API for unban 
+            // For now, do an unban by resetting the user membership to "leave"
+            return this.setMembership(room_id, user_id, "leave");
+        },
+        
+        // Kicks a user from a room
+        kick: function(room_id, user_id, reason) {
+            // Set the user membership to "leave" to kick him
+            return this.setMembership(room_id, user_id, "leave", reason);
+        },
+        
         // Retrieves the room ID corresponding to a room alias
         resolveRoomAlias:function(room_alias) {
             var path = "/_matrix/client/api/v1/directory/room/$room_alias";
diff --git a/webclient/room/room-controller.js b/webclient/room/room-controller.js
index 39f8635d7..905a0723d 100644
--- a/webclient/room/room-controller.js
+++ b/webclient/room/room-controller.js
@@ -325,15 +325,9 @@ angular.module('RoomController', ['ngSanitize', 'matrixFilter', 'mFileInput'])
                     // Kick a user from the room with an optional reason
                     if (args) {
                         var matches = args.match(/^(\S+?)( +(.*))?$/);
-                        if (matches.length === 2) {
-                            promise = matrixService.setMembership($scope.room_id, matches[1], "leave");                        
+                        if (matches) {
+                            promise = matrixService.kick($scope.room_id, matches[1], matches[3]);
                         }
-                        else if (matches.length === 4) {
-                            promise = matrixService.setMembershipObject($scope.room_id, matches[1], {
-                                membership: "leave",
-                                reason: matches[3] // TODO: we need to specify resaon in the spec
-                            });
-                        }        
                     }
 
                     if (!promise) {
@@ -357,14 +351,11 @@ angular.module('RoomController', ['ngSanitize', 'matrixFilter', 'mFileInput'])
 
                 case "/unban":
                     // Unban a user from the room
-                    // FIXME: this feels horribly asymmetrical - why are we banning via RPC
-                    // and unbanning by editing the membership list?
-                    // Why can't we specify a reason?
                     if (args) {
                         var matches = args.match(/^(\S+)$/);
                         if (matches) {
                             // Reset the user membership to "leave" to unban him
-                            promise = matrixService.setMembership($scope.room_id, matches[1], "leave");
+                            promise = matrixService.unban($scope.room_id, matches[1]);
                         }
                     }