diff --git a/lib/topic_creator.rb b/lib/topic_creator.rb
index 8704fd3607a..559d3a45c76 100644
--- a/lib/topic_creator.rb
+++ b/lib/topic_creator.rb
@@ -181,10 +181,14 @@ class TopicCreator
 
   def setup_tags(topic)
     if @opts[:tags].present?
-      valid_tags = DiscourseTagging.tag_topic_by_names(topic, @guardian, @opts[:tags])
-      unless valid_tags
-        topic.errors.add(:base, :unable_to_tag)
-        rollback_from_errors!(topic)
+      if @opts[:skip_validations]
+        DiscourseTagging.add_or_create_tags_by_name(topic, @opts[:tags])
+      else
+        valid_tags = DiscourseTagging.tag_topic_by_names(topic, @guardian, @opts[:tags])
+        unless valid_tags
+          topic.errors.add(:base, :unable_to_tag)
+          rollback_from_errors!(topic)
+        end
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/topic_creator_spec.rb b/spec/lib/topic_creator_spec.rb
index 556aa63a5f8..6eec7e9744d 100644
--- a/spec/lib/topic_creator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/topic_creator_spec.rb
@@ -150,6 +150,27 @@ RSpec.describe TopicCreator do
         end
       end
 
+      context "with skip_validations option" do
+        it "allows the user to add tags even if they're not permitted" do
+          SiteSetting.tag_topic_allowed_groups = Group::AUTO_GROUPS[:trust_level_2]
+          user.update!(trust_level: TrustLevel[1])
+          Group.user_trust_level_change!(user.id, user.trust_level)
+          topic =
+            TopicCreator.create(
+              user,
+              Guardian.new(user),
+              valid_attrs.merge(
+                title: "This is a valid title",
+                raw: "Somewhat lengthy body for my cool topic",
+                tags: [tag1.name, tag2.name, "brandnewtag434"],
+                skip_validations: true,
+              ),
+            )
+          expect(topic).to be_persisted
+          expect(topic.tags.pluck(:name)).to contain_exactly(tag1.name, tag2.name, "brandnewtag434")
+        end
+      end
+
       context "with staff-only tags" do
         before { create_staff_only_tags(["alpha"]) }