diff --git a/awx/api/views.py b/awx/api/views.py
index 6eec74cf38..bd07cb4977 100644
--- a/awx/api/views.py
+++ b/awx/api/views.py
@@ -1108,6 +1108,10 @@ class UserRolesList(SubListCreateAttachDetachAPIView):
         if not sub_id:
             data = dict(msg='Role "id" field is missing')
             return Response(data, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+
+        if sub_id == self.request.user.admin_role.pk:
+            raise PermissionDenied('You may not remove your own admin_role')
+
         return super(UserRolesList, self).post(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def check_parent_access(self, parent=None):