diff --git a/code/modules/jobs/job_exp.dm b/code/modules/jobs/job_exp.dm
index 159c1e1df6aa..9cf57432b4ea 100644
--- a/code/modules/jobs/job_exp.dm
+++ b/code/modules/jobs/job_exp.dm
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ GLOBAL_PROTECT(exp_to_update)
 		return FALSE
 	if(CONFIG_GET(flag/use_exp_restrictions_admin_bypass) && check_rights_for(src, R_ADMIN))
 		return FALSE // if admin exemption is enabled, and client is an admin, let them through
+	return TRUE
 
 /client/proc/get_exp_living(pure_numeric = FALSE)
 	if(!prefs.exp)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/dead/new_player/ship_select.dm b/code/modules/mob/dead/new_player/ship_select.dm
index 0ace7574101a..88146c9ea0fd 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/dead/new_player/ship_select.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/dead/new_player/ship_select.dm
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@
 	.["ships"] = list()
 	.["shipSpawnAllowed"] = SSovermap.player_ship_spawn_allowed()
 	.["purchaseBanned"] = is_banned_from(user.ckey, "Ship Purchasing")
+	// if the player has a client which is not eligible for playtime restriction (for admin + player DB flag playtime exemption), they "auto meet" playtime requirements
+	.["autoMeet"] = user.client && !user.client.is_playtime_restriction_eligible()
 	.["playMin"] = user.client ? user.client.get_exp_living(TRUE) : 0
 
 	for(var/datum/overmap/ship/controlled/S as anything in SSovermap.controlled_ships)
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/ShipSelect.js b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/ShipSelect.js
index b64016650650..11c48f96175e 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/ShipSelect.js
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/ShipSelect.js
@@ -189,10 +189,11 @@ export const ShipSelect = (props, context) => {
                       <Button
                         content="Select"
                         tooltip={
+                          !data.autoMeet &&
                           data.playMin < job.minTime &&
                           'You do not have enough playtime to play this job.'
                         }
-                        disabled={data.playMin < job.minTime}
+                        disabled={!data.autoMeet && data.playMin < job.minTime}
                         onClick={() => {
                           act('join', {
                             ship: selectedShip.ref,
@@ -204,12 +205,7 @@ export const ShipSelect = (props, context) => {
                     <Table.Cell>{job.name}</Table.Cell>
                     <Table.Cell>{job.slots}</Table.Cell>
                     <Table.Cell>
-                      {(job.minTime > 0 &&
-                        (job.minTime.toString() +
-                          'm ' +
-                          (data.playMin < job.minTime && '(Unmet)') ||
-                          '(Met)')) ||
-                        '-'}
+                      {formatShipTime(job.minTime, data.playMin, data.autoMeet)}
                     </Table.Cell>
                   </Table.Row>
                 ))}
@@ -244,7 +240,7 @@ export const ShipSelect = (props, context) => {
                 color={
                   (!data.shipSpawnAllowed && 'average') ||
                   ((template.curNum >= template.limit ||
-                    data.playMin < template.minTime) &&
+                    (!data.autoMeet && data.playMin < template.minTime)) &&
                     'grey') ||
                   'default'
                 }
@@ -256,13 +252,14 @@ export const ShipSelect = (props, context) => {
                         'No more ships may be spawned at this time.') ||
                       (template.curNum >= template.limit &&
                         'There are too many ships of this type.') ||
-                      (data.playMin < template.minTime &&
+                      (!data.autoMeet &&
+                        data.playMin < template.minTime &&
                         'You do not have enough playtime to buy this ship.')
                     }
                     disabled={
                       !data.shipSpawnAllowed ||
                       template.curNum >= template.limit ||
-                      data.playMin < template.minTime
+                      (!data.autoMeet && data.playMin < template.minTime)
                     }
                     onClick={() => {
                       act('buy', {
@@ -290,10 +287,11 @@ export const ShipSelect = (props, context) => {
                     {template.limit}
                   </LabeledList.Item>
                   <LabeledList.Item label="Min. Playtime">
-                    {template.minTime +
-                      'm ' +
-                      ((data.playMin < template.minTime && '(Unmet)') ||
-                        '(Met)')}
+                    {formatShipTime(
+                      template.minTime,
+                      data.playMin,
+                      data.autoMeet
+                    )}
                   </LabeledList.Item>
                   <LabeledList.Item label="Wiki Link">
                     <a
@@ -313,3 +311,10 @@ export const ShipSelect = (props, context) => {
     </Window>
   );
 };
+
+const formatShipTime = (minTime, playMin, autoMeet) => {
+  return (
+    (minTime <= 0 && '-') ||
+    minTime + 'm ' + ((!autoMeet && playMin < minTime && '(Unmet)') || '(Met)')
+  );
+};