diff --git a/actions/newgroup.php b/actions/newgroup.php
index d78683f705..dd264ce055 100644
--- a/actions/newgroup.php
+++ b/actions/newgroup.php
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
  * @author    Evan Prodromou <evan@status.net>
  * @author    Sarven Capadisli <csarven@status.net>
  * @copyright 2008-2009 StatusNet, Inc.
+ * @copyright 2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
  * @license   http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/agpl-3.0.html GNU Affero General Public License version 3.0
  * @link      http://status.net/
  */
@@ -58,11 +59,6 @@ class NewgroupAction extends FormAction
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_logged_in()) {
-            // TRANS: Client error displayed trying to create a group while not logged in.
-            $this->clientError(_('You must be logged in to create a group.'), 403);
-        }
-
         // $this->scoped is the current user profile
         if (!$this->scoped->hasRight(Right::CREATEGROUP)) {
             // TRANS: Client exception thrown when a user tries to create a group while banned.
diff --git a/actions/newmessage.php b/actions/newmessage.php
index 4ff9d8e9e9..5d097188fc 100644
--- a/actions/newmessage.php
+++ b/actions/newmessage.php
@@ -25,11 +25,12 @@
  * @author    Zach Copley <zach@status.net>
  * @author    Sarven Capadisli <csarven@status.net>
  * @copyright 2008-2009 StatusNet, Inc.
+ * @copyright 2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
  * @license   http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/agpl-3.0.html GNU Affero General Public License version 3.0
  * @link      http://status.net/
  */
 
-if (!defined('STATUSNET') && !defined('LACONICA')) {
+if (!defined('STATUSNET')) {
     exit(1);
 }
 
@@ -77,10 +78,6 @@ class NewmessageAction extends FormAction
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
-        if (!common_logged_in()) {
-            $this->needLogin();
-        }
-
         $user = $this->scoped->getUser();
 
         $this->content = $this->trimmed('content');
diff --git a/actions/newnotice.php b/actions/newnotice.php
index ad06c7e266..7e2de90cf8 100644
--- a/actions/newnotice.php
+++ b/actions/newnotice.php
@@ -63,31 +63,6 @@ class NewnoticeAction extends FormAction
         return _m('TITLE','New notice');
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Handle input, produce output
-     *
-     * Switches based on GET or POST method. On GET, shows a form
-     * for posting a notice. On POST, saves the results of that form.
-     *
-     * Results may be a full page, or just a single notice list item,
-     * depending on whether AJAX was requested.
-     *
-     * @param array $args $_REQUEST contents
-     *
-     * @return void
-     */
-    protected function prepare(array $args=array())
-    {
-        parent::prepare($args);
-
-        if (!common_logged_in()) {
-            // TRANS: Error message displayed when trying to perform an action that requires a logged in user.
-            $this->clientError(_('Not logged in.'), 403);
-        }
-
-        return true;
-    }
-
     /**
      * This handlePost saves a new notice, based on arguments
      *
diff --git a/lib/action.php b/lib/action.php
index 09a15a4435..d3c25be19e 100644
--- a/lib/action.php
+++ b/lib/action.php
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class Action extends HTMLOutputter // lawsuit
     protected $action = false;
     protected $ajax   = false;
     protected $menus  = true;
+    protected $needLogin = false;
 
     // The currently scoped profile
     protected $scoped = null;
@@ -142,6 +143,10 @@ class Action extends HTMLOutputter // lawsuit
             StatusNet::setAjax(true);
         }
 
+        if ($this->needLogin) {
+            $this->checkLogin(); // if not logged in, this redirs/excepts
+        }
+
         $this->scoped = Profile::current();
 
         return true;
@@ -1377,15 +1382,25 @@ class Action extends HTMLOutputter // lawsuit
     }
 
     /**
-     * Redirect to login page (with returnto)
+     * If not logged in, take appropriate action (redir or exception)
      *
-     * @return nothing
+     * @param boolean $redir Redirect to login if not logged in
+     *
+     * @return boolean true if logged in (never returns if not)
      */
-    function needLogin()
+    public function checkLogin($redir=true)
     {
-        // this might be updated with a login check before redirecting
-        common_set_returnto($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']);
-        common_redirect(common_local_url('login'));
+        if (common_logged_in()) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        if ($redir==true) {
+            common_set_returnto($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']);
+            common_redirect(common_local_url('login'));
+        }
+
+        // TRANS: Error message displayed when trying to perform an action that requires a logged in user.
+        $this->clientError(_('Not logged in.'), 403);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/lib/formaction.php b/lib/formaction.php
index fda66007d8..8f300d3a63 100644
--- a/lib/formaction.php
+++ b/lib/formaction.php
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class FormAction extends Action
 {
     protected $form = null;
     protected $type = null;
+    protected $needLogin = true;
 
     protected function prepare(array $args=array()) {
         parent::prepare($args);