diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
index 1aef9f41e..64027c456 100755
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ from r2.lib.pages import (EnemyList, FriendList, ContributorList, ModList,
 from r2.lib.pages import FlairList, FlairCsv, FlairTemplateEditor, \
     FlairSelector
 from r2.lib.pages import PrefApps
-from r2.lib.utils.trial_utils import indict, end_trial, trial_info
+from r2.lib.utils.trial_utils import indict, trial_info
 from r2.lib.pages.things import wrap_links, default_thing_wrapper
 from r2.models.last_modified import LastModified
 
@@ -1685,8 +1685,6 @@ class ApiController(RedditController, OAuth2ResourceController):
         if getattr(thing, "promoted", None):
             return
 
-        end_trial(thing, why + "-removed")
-
         filtered = thing._spam
         kw = {'target': thing}
 
@@ -1722,7 +1720,6 @@ class ApiController(RedditController, OAuth2ResourceController):
     def POST_approve(self, why, thing):
         if not thing: return
         if thing._deleted: return
-        end_trial(thing, why + "-approved")
         kw = {'target': thing}
         if thing._spam:
             kw['details'] = 'unspam'
@@ -1733,7 +1730,8 @@ class ApiController(RedditController, OAuth2ResourceController):
             train_spam = False
             insert = False
 
-        admintools.unspam(thing, c.user.name, train_spam=train_spam,
+        admintools.unspam(thing, moderator_unbanned=not c.user_is_admin,
+                          unbanner=c.user.name, train_spam=train_spam,
                           insert=insert)
 
         if isinstance(thing, (Link, Comment)):
diff --git a/r2/r2/models/admintools.py b/r2/r2/models/admintools.py
index f160b2222..a7ba3b65b 100644
--- a/r2/r2/models/admintools.py
+++ b/r2/r2/models/admintools.py
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ class AdminTools(object):
 
             t._spam = True
 
+            if moderator_banned:
+                t.verdict = 'mod-removed'
+            elif not auto:
+                t.verdict = 'admin-removed'
+
             ban_info = copy(getattr(t, 'ban_info', {}))
             if isinstance(banner, dict):
                 ban_info['banner'] = banner[t._fullname]
@@ -77,7 +82,8 @@ class AdminTools(object):
 
         queries.ban(all_things, filtered=auto)
 
-    def unspam(self, things, unbanner=None, train_spam=True, insert=True):
+    def unspam(self, things, moderator_unbanned=True, unbanner=None,
+               train_spam=True, insert=True):
         from r2.lib.db import queries
 
         things = tup(things)
@@ -105,6 +111,10 @@ class AdminTools(object):
                 ban_info['reset_used'] = True
             t.ban_info = ban_info
             t._spam = False
+            if moderator_unbanned:
+                t.verdict = 'mod-approved'
+            else:
+                t.verdict = 'admin-approved'
             t._commit()
 
         self.author_spammer(things, False)