diff --git a/src/services/ResourceService.js b/src/services/ResourceService.js
index d32e84d..6132977 100644
--- a/src/services/ResourceService.js
+++ b/src/services/ResourceService.js
@@ -273,6 +273,10 @@ async function init (currentUser, challengeId, resource, isCreated) {
   if (_.get(challenge, 'task.isTask', false)) {
     return { resources, memberId, handle }
   }
+  // bypass phase dependency checks if the caller is an m2m/admin
+  if (currentUser.isMachine || helper.hasAdminRole(currentUser)) {
+    return { resources, memberId, handle }
+  }
   // check phases dependencies
   const dependencies = await ResourceRolePhaseDependencyService.getDependencies({ resourceRoleId: resource.roleId })
   _.forEach(dependencies, (dependency) => {