diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/groups/layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/groups/layout.html
index 619c89ee1..99c69f1c9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/groups/layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/groups/layout.html
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {% extends 'layout.html' %}
 {% load i18n %}
+{% load bookwyrm_group_tags %}
 
 {% block title %}{{ group.name }}{% endblock %}
 
@@ -11,27 +12,30 @@
             {% include 'groups/created_text.html' with group=group %}
         </p>
     </div>
-    {% if request.user == group.user %}
+    {% if group|is_member:request.user %}
     <div class="column is-narrow is-flex">
         {% trans "Create List" as button_text %}
         {% include 'snippets/toggle/open_button.html' with controls_text="create_list" icon_with_text="plus" text=button_text focus="create_list_header" %}
     </div>
+    {% endif %}
+    {% if request.user == group.user %}
     <div class="column is-narrow is-flex">
         {% trans "Edit group" as button_text %}
         {% include 'snippets/toggle/open_button.html' with text=button_text icon_with_text="pencil" controls_text="edit_group" focus="edit_group_header" %}
     </div>
     {% endif %}
 </header>
+
+<div class="block content">
+    {% include 'snippets/trimmed_text.html' with full=group.description %}
+</div>
+
 {% if request.user.is_authenticated %}
 <div class="block">
     {% include 'lists/create_form.html' with controls_text="create_list" curation_group=group %}
 </div>
 {% endif %}
 
-<div class="block content">
-    {% include 'snippets/trimmed_text.html' with full=group.description %}
-</div>
-
 <div class="block">
     {% include 'groups/edit_form.html' with controls_text="edit_group" %}
 </div>