diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/func.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/func.sgml
index c715ca25508..1cc80a540ac 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/func.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/func.sgml
@@ -16469,7 +16469,7 @@ postgres=# SELECT * FROM pg_xlogfile_name_offset(pg_stop_backup());
         <literal><function>pg_xlog_replay_pause()</function></literal>
         </entry>
        <entry><type>void</type></entry>
-       <entry>Pauses recovery immediately.
+       <entry>Pauses recovery immediately (restricted to superusers).
        </entry>
       </row>
       <row>
@@ -16477,7 +16477,7 @@ postgres=# SELECT * FROM pg_xlogfile_name_offset(pg_stop_backup());
         <literal><function>pg_xlog_replay_resume()</function></literal>
         </entry>
        <entry><type>void</type></entry>
-       <entry>Restarts recovery if it was paused.
+       <entry>Restarts recovery if it was paused (restricted to superusers).
        </entry>
       </row>
      </tbody>
@@ -16585,7 +16585,7 @@ postgres=# SELECT * FROM pg_xlogfile_name_offset(pg_stop_backup());
     for controlling and interacting with replication features.
     See <xref linkend="streaming-replication">
     and <xref linkend="streaming-replication-slots"> for information about the
-    underlying features.
+    underlying features.  Use of these functions is restricted to superusers.
    </para>
 
    <para>
diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogfuncs.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogfuncs.c
index f186468dd2c..133143db929 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogfuncs.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogfuncs.c
@@ -382,11 +382,6 @@ pg_xlog_replay_resume(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 Datum
 pg_is_xlog_replay_paused(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 {
-	if (!superuser())
-		ereport(ERROR,
-				(errcode(ERRCODE_INSUFFICIENT_PRIVILEGE),
-				 (errmsg("must be superuser to control recovery"))));
-
 	if (!RecoveryInProgress())
 		ereport(ERROR,
 				(errcode(ERRCODE_OBJECT_NOT_IN_PREREQUISITE_STATE),