diff --git a/src/main/java/org/gcube/gcat/persistence/ckan/CKANPackage.java b/src/main/java/org/gcube/gcat/persistence/ckan/CKANPackage.java
index 8474bda..575be64 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/gcube/gcat/persistence/ckan/CKANPackage.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/gcube/gcat/persistence/ckan/CKANPackage.java
@@ -1342,6 +1342,10 @@ public class CKANPackage extends CKAN implements Moderated {
 							throw new MethodNotSupportedException("Only catalogue moderator can approve a pending item.");
 						}
 						setToApproved(result);
+						
+						// Need to use sysadmin because the user could not have the right to modify the item
+						setApiKey(CKANUtility.getSysAdminAPI());
+						
 						String ret = sendPostRequest(ITEM_UPDATE, getAsString(result));
 						result = mapper.readTree(ret);
 						
@@ -1389,6 +1393,10 @@ public class CKANPackage extends CKAN implements Moderated {
 						}
 						
 						setToRejected(result);
+						
+						// Need to use sysadmin because the user could not have the right to modify the item
+						setApiKey(CKANUtility.getSysAdminAPI());
+						
 						String ret = sendPostRequest(ITEM_PATCH, getAsString(result));
 						result = mapper.readTree(ret);
 						parseResult();
@@ -1457,7 +1465,7 @@ public class CKANPackage extends CKAN implements Moderated {
 						throw new BadRequestException("Allowed moderation operations are approve, reject and message");
 				}
 			}else {
-				if(message==null || message.compareTo("")==0) {
+				if(message==null || message.length()==0) {
 					throw new BadRequestException("Allowed moderation operations are approve, reject and message");
 				}
 				message(message);