diff --git a/crates/rustmail/src/handlers/guild_interaction_handler.rs b/crates/rustmail/src/handlers/guild_interaction_handler.rs
index 42d0dca..b7f19e6 100644
--- a/crates/rustmail/src/handlers/guild_interaction_handler.rs
+++ b/crates/rustmail/src/handlers/guild_interaction_handler.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 use crate::prelude::commands::*;
 use crate::prelude::config::*;
+use crate::prelude::errors::*;
 use crate::prelude::features::*;
 use crate::prelude::modules::*;
 use crate::prelude::types::*;
-use crate::utils::{MessageBuilder, defer_response};
+use crate::utils::{
+    MessageBuilder, defer_response, defer_response_ephemeral, is_staff_member, is_staff_user,
+};
 use serenity::all::{Context, EventHandler, Interaction, Permissions};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
@@ -119,6 +122,34 @@ impl EventHandler for InteractionHandler {
                 }
             }
             Interaction::Command(command) => {
+                // Every command is staff-only. Discord registration alone doesn't enforce it:
+                // in single mode everything lives in the shared guild, and community commands
+                // are visible to every community member. Community commands may be run from
+                // either guild, the others only from the staff guild.
+                let community_command = self
+                    .registry
+                    .get(command.data.name.as_str())
+                    .is_some_and(|c| c.as_community().is_some());
+                let is_staff = match command.guild_id {
+                    Some(_) if community_command => {
+                        is_staff_user(&ctx, &self.config, command.user.id).await
+                    }
+                    Some(guild_id) => {
+                        is_staff_member(&ctx, &self.config, guild_id, command.user.id).await
+                    }
+                    None => true,
+                };
+                if !is_staff {
+                    if defer_response_ephemeral(&ctx, &command).await.is_ok()
+                        && let Some(error_handler) = &self.config.error_handler
+                    {
+                        let _ = error_handler
+                            .reply_to_command_with_error(&ctx, &command, &permission_denied())
+                            .await;
+                    }
+                    return;
+                }
+
                 if self.maintenance_mode.load(Ordering::Relaxed)
                     && let Some(guild_id) = command.guild_id
                     && !is_interaction_user_maintenance_exempt(
diff --git a/crates/rustmail/src/handlers/guild_messages_handler.rs b/crates/rustmail/src/handlers/guild_messages_handler.rs
index f6bacd8..77b3cde 100644
--- a/crates/rustmail/src/handlers/guild_messages_handler.rs
+++ b/crates/rustmail/src/handlers/guild_messages_handler.rs
@@ -291,6 +291,14 @@ impl EventHandler for GuildMessagesHandler {
                 command_name = &message_content[self.config.command.prefix.len()..i];
             }
 
+            // Text commands are staff-only, like the slash commands (which are not even
+            // registered in the community guild). Ignore everyone else silently.
+            if let Some(guild_id) = msg.guild_id
+                && !is_staff_member(&ctx, &self.config, guild_id, msg.author.id).await
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
             if self.maintenance_mode.load(Ordering::Relaxed)
                 && !is_user_maintenance_exempt(&ctx, &msg, &self.config).await
             {
diff --git a/crates/rustmail/src/utils/command/mod.rs b/crates/rustmail/src/utils/command/mod.rs
index eeb21a4..a4c276f 100644
--- a/crates/rustmail/src/utils/command/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/rustmail/src/utils/command/mod.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 pub mod category;
 pub mod defer_response;
 pub mod extract_reply_content;
+pub mod staff_access;
 pub mod wrap_command;
 
 pub use category::*;
 pub use defer_response::*;
 pub use extract_reply_content::*;
+pub use staff_access::*;
diff --git a/crates/rustmail/src/utils/command/staff_access.rs b/crates/rustmail/src/utils/command/staff_access.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd3b984
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/rustmail/src/utils/command/staff_access.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+use crate::prelude::config::*;
+use serenity::all::{ChannelId, Context, GuildId, UserId};
+
+/// Whether `user_id` may use staff commands in `guild_id`: the staff guild only, and only for
+/// staff (see [`is_staff_user`]).
+pub async fn is_staff_member(
+    ctx: &Context,
+    config: &Config,
+    guild_id: GuildId,
+    user_id: UserId,
+) -> bool {
+    guild_id.get() == config.bot.get_staff_guild_id() && is_staff_user(ctx, config, user_id).await
+}
+
+/// Whether `user_id` is staff, wherever the command was invoked from.
+///
+/// Dual mode: staff are the members of the staff guild.
+/// Single mode: staff are the members who can see the inbox category (which is also who can see
+/// the tickets). Configured super admins are always staff.
+pub async fn is_staff_user(ctx: &Context, config: &Config, user_id: UserId) -> bool {
+    if config.bot.panel_super_admin_users.contains(&user_id.get()) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    let guild_id = GuildId::new(config.bot.get_staff_guild_id());
+
+    let member = match guild_id.member(ctx, user_id).await {
+        Ok(m) => m,
+        Err(_) => return false,
+    };
+
+    if config.bot.is_dual_mode()
+        || member
+            .roles
+            .iter()
+            .any(|role_id| config.bot.panel_super_admin_roles.contains(&role_id.get()))
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    let inbox_category_id = ChannelId::new(config.thread.inbox_category_id);
+
+    let cached = ctx.cache.guild(guild_id).and_then(|guild| {
+        guild
+            .channels
+            .get(&inbox_category_id)
+            .map(|category| guild.user_permissions_in(category, &member))
+    });
+
+    let permissions = match cached {
+        Some(p) => p,
+        None => {
+            let category = match inbox_category_id.to_channel(ctx).await {
+                Ok(channel) => match channel.guild() {
+                    Some(c) => c,
+                    None => return false,
+                },
+                Err(_) => return false,
+            };
+            match guild_id.to_partial_guild(ctx).await {
+                Ok(guild) => guild.user_permissions_in(&category, &member),
+                Err(_) => return false,
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+    permissions.view_channel()
+}
diff --git a/docs/guides/commands.md b/docs/guides/commands.md
index 088e103..5b462c5 100644
--- a/docs/guides/commands.md
+++ b/docs/guides/commands.md
@@ -373,8 +373,14 @@ Combinations are supported: `1d12h` = 1 day and 12 hours.
 
 ## Command Permissions
 
-Commands are available to users with access to ticket channels. The bot respects Discord's permission system:
-
-- Only staff with channel access can use ticket commands
-- Super admins (configured in `config.toml`) have full access
-- Additional permissions can be configured through the panel
+Commands (text and slash) are reserved to staff:
+
+- **Dual-server mode**: commands only work in the staff server. Slash commands are not registered in the community
+  server, and text commands sent there are ignored. The one exception is the *New Thread* user context menu
+  (right-click a member → Apps), which is available in the community server too, but only for members of the staff
+  server.
+- **Single-server mode**: staff are the members who can see the inbox category (`inbox_category_id`), which is also
+  who can see the tickets. Other members are ignored by text commands and get a "permission denied" reply to slash
+  commands. To also hide slash commands from them, restrict the bot's commands in *Server Settings → Integrations*.
+- Super admins (`panel_super_admin_users` / `panel_super_admin_roles` in `config.toml`) always count as staff.
+- Additional panel permissions can be configured through the panel