diff --git a/server/src/routes/threads/chat.ts b/server/src/routes/threads/chat.ts
index 1a7a78e2..6e1cc6d4 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/threads/chat.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/threads/chat.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ chatRoutes.openapi(chatRoute, async (c) => {
 
   const isAdmin = principal.type === "admin";
   const adminUser = isAdmin ? requireAdminUser(principal) : undefined;
+  const useAdminAgents = isAdmin && adminUser?.role !== "staff";
 
   const storage = await getStorage(c.env.DB);
 
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ chatRoutes.openapi(chatRoute, async (c) => {
   logger.info(`[Chat] intent: ${intent}`, { threadId });
 
   const neppChanAgent = createNeppChanAgent({
-    isAdmin,
+    isAdmin: useAdminAgents,
     modelConfig,
   });
   const mastra = new Mastra({