diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/org/quiltmc/community/database/migrations/AllMigrations.kt b/src/main/kotlin/org/quiltmc/community/database/migrations/AllMigrations.kt
index 9c2f611d..48669817 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/org/quiltmc/community/database/migrations/AllMigrations.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/org/quiltmc/community/database/migrations/AllMigrations.kt
@@ -321,4 +321,18 @@ object AllMigrations {
 
 		db.createCollection(PingGroupCollection.name)
 	}
+
+	suspend fun v27(db: CoroutineDatabase) {
+		with(db.getCollection<ServerSettings>(ServerSettingsCollection.name)) {
+			updateMany(
+				ServerSettings::exemptUsers exists false,
+				setValue(ServerSettings::exemptUsers, mutableSetOf())
+			)
+
+			updateMany(
+				ServerSettings::exemptRoles exists false,
+				setValue(ServerSettings::exemptRoles, mutableSetOf())
+			)
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/org/quiltmc/community/modes/quilt/extensions/moderation/ModerationExtension.kt b/src/main/kotlin/org/quiltmc/community/modes/quilt/extensions/moderation/ModerationExtension.kt
index 42d803cb..92cfc0a4 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/org/quiltmc/community/modes/quilt/extensions/moderation/ModerationExtension.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/org/quiltmc/community/modes/quilt/extensions/moderation/ModerationExtension.kt
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ class ModerationExtension(
 			event<MessageCreateEvent> {
 				check { isNotBot() } // oh man my bot is going crazy
 				check { notHasBaseModeratorRole() } // mods can spam :pineapple:
+				check { notExempted() }
 
 				action {
 					if (event.member?.roles?.firstOrNull { it.id in MODERATOR_ROLES } != null) {
@@ -228,6 +229,7 @@ class ModerationExtension(
 				check { failIf(event.message.author?.isBot == true) }
 				check { failIf(event.guildId == null) }
 				check { notHasBaseModeratorRole() }
+				check { notExempted() }
 				check {
 					failIf(
 						event.getGuildOrNull()