diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/annotatable.js.coffee b/app/assets/javascripts/annotatable.js.coffee
index ddd82e6cf..712500cf3 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/annotatable.js.coffee
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/annotatable.js.coffee
@@ -6,11 +6,14 @@ App.Annotatable =
       ann_id      = $this.data("annotatable-id")
 
       app = new annotator.App()
-        .include(annotator.ui.main, { element: this })
-        .include(annotator.storage.http, { prefix: "", urls: { search: "/annotations/search" } })
         .include ->
           beforeAnnotationCreated: (ann) ->
             ann[ann_type + "_id"] = ann_id
+            ann.permissions = ann.permissions || {}
+            ann.permissions.admin = []
+        .include(annotator.ui.main, { element: this })
+        .include(annotator.storage.http, { prefix: "", urls: { search: "/annotations/search" } })
+
 
       app.start().then ->
         app.ident.identity = $('html').data('current-user-id')