diff --git a/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/context.rs b/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/context.rs
index c8f62e1f6..d649d4075 100644
--- a/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/context.rs
+++ b/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/context.rs
@@ -262,13 +262,13 @@ mod tests {
         helpers::{make_valid_link_record, simulated_sphere_context},
         tracing::initialize_tracing,
         view::Sphere,
+        SphereSync, SyncError,
     };
 
     use noosphere_storage::{MemoryStorage, SphereDb};
     use ucan::{builder::UcanBuilder, crypto::KeyMaterial, store::UcanJwtStore};
     #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
     use wasm_bindgen_test::wasm_bindgen_test;
-
     #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
     wasm_bindgen_test::wasm_bindgen_test_configure!(run_in_browser);
 
@@ -436,6 +436,18 @@ mod tests {
             .set_petname_record("foo", records.get(1).unwrap())
             .await
             .is_err());
+    }
+
+    async fn it_requires_write_access_to_sync() -> Result<()> {
+        initialize_tracing(None);
+
+        let (mut sphere_context, _) =
+            simulated_sphere_context(SimulationAccess::Readonly, None).await?;
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            sphere_context.sync(crate::SyncRecovery::None).await,
+            Err(SyncError::InsufficientPermission)
+        ));
         Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/sync/error.rs b/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/sync/error.rs
index 5295155cc..0b20e518b 100644
--- a/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/sync/error.rs
+++ b/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/sync/error.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ use thiserror::Error;
 /// gateway
 #[derive(Error, Debug)]
 pub enum SyncError {
+    /// The error was due to not having write access to the sphere
+    #[error("Insufficient permission to sync")]
+    InsufficientPermission,
     /// The error was a conflict; this is possibly recoverable
     #[error("There was a conflict during sync")]
     Conflict,
diff --git a/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/sync/write.rs b/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/sync/write.rs
index 1d075a3bd..9c040cf37 100644
--- a/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/sync/write.rs
+++ b/rust/noosphere-core/src/context/sync/write.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
-use crate::data::{Link, MemoIpld};
+use crate::{
+    authority::Authorization,
+    context::{
+        internal::SphereContextInternal, GatewaySyncStrategy, HasMutableSphereContext,
+        HasSphereContext, SyncError, SyncExtent, SyncRecovery,
+    },
+    data::{Link, MemoIpld},
+};
 use anyhow::Result;
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use noosphere_storage::Storage;
 
-use crate::context::{HasMutableSphereContext, SyncError, SyncExtent, SyncRecovery};
-
-use crate::context::GatewaySyncStrategy;
-
 /// Implementors of [SphereSync] are able to sychronize with a Noosphere gateway
 #[cfg_attr(not(target_arch = "wasm32"), async_trait)]
 #[cfg_attr(target_arch = "wasm32", async_trait(?Send))]
@@ -52,6 +55,17 @@ where
     ) -> Result<Link<MemoIpld>, SyncError> {
         debug!("Attempting to sync...");
 
+        // Check that the author has write access to sync.
+        // If a sphere was joined from another sphere, do not check,
+        // but allow sync to proceed, as the local sphere does not have
+        // local proof until after initial sync. If truly no write access is
+        // available, the gateway will reject this sync.
+        if !is_sphere_joined(self).await {
+            self.assert_write_access()
+                .await
+                .map_err(|_| SyncError::InsufficientPermission)?;
+        }
+
         let sync_strategy = GatewaySyncStrategy::default();
 
         let version = match recovery {
@@ -94,3 +108,31 @@ where
         Ok(version)
     }
 }
+
+/// Given a `HasSphereContext<S>`, return a boolean indicating
+/// whether or not this sphere has been joined from another sphere
+/// (e.g. possibly lacking local authorization until syncing with a gateway).
+async fn is_sphere_joined<C, S>(context: &C) -> bool
+where
+    C: HasSphereContext<S>,
+    S: Storage + 'static,
+{
+    let context = {
+        let context = context.sphere_context().await;
+        if context.is_err() {
+            return false;
+        }
+        context.unwrap()
+    };
+
+    let author = context.author();
+
+    let auth = {
+        let auth = author.require_authorization();
+        if auth.is_err() {
+            return false;
+        }
+        auth.unwrap()
+    };
+    matches!(auth, Authorization::Cid(_))
+}