diff --git a/synapse/handlers/directory.py b/synapse/handlers/directory.py
index a2874b070..3fce6dcff 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/directory.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/directory.py
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class DirectoryHandler:
 
             if not self.config.roomdirectory.is_alias_creation_allowed(
                 user_id, room_id, room_alias_str
-            ):
+            ) and not is_admin:
                 # Let's just return a generic message, as there may be all sorts of
                 # reasons why we said no. TODO: Allow configurable error messages
                 # per alias creation rule?
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ class DirectoryHandler:
 
             if not self.config.roomdirectory.is_publishing_room_allowed(
                 user_id, room_id, room_aliases
-            ):
+            ) and not await self.auth.is_server_admin(requester):
                 # Let's just return a generic message, as there may be all sorts of
                 # reasons why we said no. TODO: Allow configurable error messages
                 # per alias creation rule?
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/room.py b/synapse/handlers/room.py
index c4f4bd6e5..cfa7f6eb0 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/room.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/room.py
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ class RoomCreationHandler:
                 room_aliases.append(room_alias.to_string())
             if not self.config.roomdirectory.is_publishing_room_allowed(
                 user_id, room_id, room_aliases
-            ):
+            ) and not is_requester_admin:
                 # allow room creation to continue but do not publish room
                 await self.store.set_room_is_public(room_id, False)