diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Operation/Group.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Operation/Group.pm
index 76acc41ca..84cd85593 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Operation/Group.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Operation/Group.pm
@@ -81,7 +81,11 @@ sub www_editGroup {
                 $f->text("groupName",WebGUI::International::get(84),$group{groupName});
                 $f->textarea("description",WebGUI::International::get(85),$group{description});
                 $f->integer("expireAfter",WebGUI::International::get(367),$group{expireAfter});
-                $f->integer("karmaThreshold",WebGUI::International::get(538),$group{karmaThreshold});
+		if ($session{setting}{useKarma}) {
+                	$f->integer("karmaThreshold",WebGUI::International::get(538),$group{karmaThreshold});
+		} else {
+                	$f->hidden("karmaThreshold",$group{karmaThreshold});
+		}
 		$f->submit;
 		$output .= $f->print;
 		unless ($session{form}{gid} eq "new") {
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Privilege.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Privilege.pm
index 8c9e188ac..631979569 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Privilege.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Privilege.pm
@@ -137,11 +137,13 @@ sub isInGroup {
         ### Get data for auxillary checks.
 	tie %group, 'Tie::CPHash';
 	%group = WebGUI::SQL->quickHash("select karmaThreshold from groups where groupId='$gid'");
-	tie %user, 'Tie::CPHash';
-	%user = WebGUI::SQL->quickHash("select karma from users where userId='$uid'");
         ### Check karma levels.
-	if ($user{karma} >= $group{karmaThreshold}) {
-		return 1;
+	if ($session{setting}{useKarma}) {
+		tie %user, 'Tie::CPHash';
+		%user = WebGUI::SQL->quickHash("select karma from users where userId='$uid'");
+		if ($user{karma} >= $group{karmaThreshold}) {
+			return 1;
+		}
 	}
 	### Admins can do anything!
         if ($gid != 3) {