diff --git a/app/models/ability.rb b/app/models/ability.rb
index 6713127c..18f9d4c4 100644
--- a/app/models/ability.rb
+++ b/app/models/ability.rb
@@ -75,7 +75,9 @@ class Ability
     can [:new, :create], Payment, user_id: user.id
     can [:index, :show], PhysicalTicket, user: user
 
-    can [:new, :create], Booth
+    can [:new, :create], Booth do |booth|
+      booth.new_record? && booth.conference.program.cfps.for_booths.try(:open?)
+    end
 
     can [:edit, :update, :index, :show], Booth do |booth|
       booth.users.include?(user)
diff --git a/app/models/cfp.rb b/app/models/cfp.rb
index 8248cd1a..17b37809 100644
--- a/app/models/cfp.rb
+++ b/app/models/cfp.rb
@@ -94,6 +94,15 @@ class Cfp < ActiveRecord::Base
     find_by(cfp_type: 'tracks')
   end
 
+  ##
+  # Finds the cfp for booths if it exists
+  #
+  # ====Returns
+  # * +Cfp+ -> The cfp with type 'booths'
+  def self.for_booths
+    find_by(cfp_type: 'booths')
+  end
+
   private
 
   def before_end_of_conference
diff --git a/spec/controllers/booths_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/booths_controller_spec.rb
index 243bc6e2..56f3b9d9 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/booths_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/booths_controller_spec.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ describe BoothsController do
 
   context 'user is signed in with submitter role' do
     before :each do
+      create(:cfp, program: conference.program, cfp_type: 'booths')
       sign_in booth.submitter
     end