diff --git a/webroot/panel/ajax/get_group_members.php b/webroot/panel/ajax/get_group_members.php
index 7ade536f..222c2e25 100644
--- a/webroot/panel/ajax/get_group_members.php
+++ b/webroot/panel/ajax/get_group_members.php
@@ -10,21 +10,10 @@
 }
 
 $group = new UnityGroup($_GET["pi_uid"], $LDAP, $SQL, $MAILER, $REDIS, $WEBHOOK);
-$members = $group->getGroupMembers();
-
-// verify that the user querying is actually in the group
-$found = false;
-foreach ($members as $member) {
-    if ($member->getUID() == $USER->getUID()) {
-        $found = true;
-        break;
-    }
-}
-
-if ($found) {
+if (!$group->userExists($USER)) {
     UnitySite::forbidden("not a group member");
 }
-
+$members = $group->getGroupMembers();
 $count = count($members);
 foreach ($members as $key => $member) {
     if ($member->getUID() == $group->getOwner()->getUID()) {