diff --git a/datasette/views/table.py b/datasette/views/table.py
index 1c187692..6d0d9885 100644
--- a/datasette/views/table.py
+++ b/datasette/views/table.py
@@ -485,6 +485,11 @@ class TableInsertView(BaseView):
         if upsert and (ignore or replace):
             return _error(["Upsert does not support ignore or replace"], 400)
 
+        if replace and not await self.ds.permission_allowed(
+            request.actor, "update-row", resource=(database_name, table_name)
+        ):
+            return _error(['Permission denied: need update-row to use "replace"'], 403)
+
         initial_schema = None
         if alter:
             # Must have alter-table permission
diff --git a/docs/json_api.rst b/docs/json_api.rst
index c401d97e..366f74b2 100644
--- a/docs/json_api.rst
+++ b/docs/json_api.rst
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ Pass ``"ignore": true`` to ignore these errors and insert the other rows:
         "ignore": true
     }
 
-Or you can pass ``"replace": true`` to replace any rows with conflicting primary keys with the new values.
+Or you can pass ``"replace": true`` to replace any rows with conflicting primary keys with the new values. This requires the :ref:`permissions_update_row` permission.
 
 Pass ``"alter: true`` to automatically add any missing columns to the table. This requires the :ref:`permissions_alter_table` permission.
 
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ The JSON here describes the table that will be created:
 
 * ``pks`` can be used instead of ``pk`` to create a compound primary key. It should be a JSON list of column names to use in that primary key.
 * ``ignore`` can be set to ``true`` to ignore existing rows by primary key if the table already exists.
-* ``replace`` can be set to ``true`` to replace existing rows by primary key if the table already exists.
+* ``replace`` can be set to ``true`` to replace existing rows by primary key if the table already exists. This requires the :ref:`permissions_update_row` permission.
 * ``alter`` can be set to ``true`` if you want to automatically add any missing columns to the table. This requires the :ref:`permissions_alter_table` permission.
 
 If the table is successfully created this will return a ``201`` status code and the following response:
diff --git a/tests/test_api_write.py b/tests/test_api_write.py
index 634f5ee9..6a7ddeb6 100644
--- a/tests/test_api_write.py
+++ b/tests/test_api_write.py
@@ -221,6 +221,14 @@ async def test_insert_rows(ds_write, return_rows):
             400,
             ['Cannot use "ignore" and "replace" at the same time'],
         ),
+        (
+            # Replace is not allowed if you don't have update-row
+            "/data/docs/-/insert",
+            {"rows": [{"title": "Test"}], "replace": True},
+            "insert-but-not-update",
+            403,
+            ['Permission denied: need update-row to use "replace"'],
+        ),
         (
             "/data/docs/-/insert",
             {"rows": [{"title": "Test"}], "invalid_param": True},