diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/ContentController.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/ContentController.cs
index c13840ea44..354134d78a 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/ContentController.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/ContentController.cs
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Editors
         /// <param name="contentService"></param>
         /// <param name="nodeId">The content to lookup, if the contentItem is not specified</param>
         /// <param name="permissionToCheck"></param>
-        /// <param name="contentItem">Specifies the already resolved content item to check against, setting this ignores the nodeId</param>
+        /// <param name="contentItem">Specifies the already resolved content item to check against</param>
         /// <returns></returns>
         internal static bool CheckPermissions(
             IDictionary<string, object> storage,
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/MediaController.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/MediaController.cs
index fef0d4716d..d1e72831ad 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/MediaController.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/MediaController.cs
@@ -310,21 +310,22 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Editors
         /// <returns></returns>
         internal static bool CheckPermissions(IDictionary<string, object> storage, IUser user, IMediaService mediaService, int nodeId, IMedia media = null)
         {
-            if (nodeId != Constants.System.Root)
+            if (media == null && nodeId != Constants.System.Root)
             {
-                
-            
-            var contentItem = mediaService.GetById(nodeId);
-            if (contentItem == null)
+                media = mediaService.GetById(nodeId);
+                //put the content item into storage so it can be retreived 
+                // in the controller (saves a lookup)
+                storage[typeof(IMedia).ToString()] = media;
+            }
+
+            if (media == null && nodeId != Constants.System.Root)
             {
                 throw new HttpResponseException(HttpStatusCode.NotFound);
             }
 
-            //put the content item into storage so it can be retreived 
-            // in the controller (saves a lookup)
-            storage.Add(typeof(IMedia).ToString(), contentItem);
-
-            var hasPathAccess = user.HasPathAccess(contentItem);
+            var hasPathAccess = (nodeId == Constants.System.Root)
+                                    ? UserExtensions.HasPathAccess("-1", user.StartMediaId, Constants.System.RecycleBinMedia)
+                                    : user.HasPathAccess(media);
 
             return hasPathAccess;
         }