diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index e8065d950..42f566de4 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
 class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
   protect_from_forgery
+
+  # tweak CanCan defaults because we don't have a "current_user" method
+  def current_ability
+    @current_ability ||= AccountAbility.new(current_member)
+  end
+
 end