diff --git a/packages/builder/src/builderStore/api.js b/packages/builder/src/builderStore/api.js
index 04dcce6cb9..c132b01fc0 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/builderStore/api.js
+++ b/packages/builder/src/builderStore/api.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const apiCall = method => async (url, body) => {
     method: method,
     headers: {
       "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      "User-Agent": "Budibase Builder",
     },
     body: body && JSON.stringify(body),
   })
@@ -14,11 +15,11 @@ const apiCall = method => async (url, body) => {
   return response
 }
 
-const post = apiCall("POST")
-const get = apiCall("GET")
-const patch = apiCall("PATCH")
-const del = apiCall("DELETE")
-const put = apiCall("PUT")
+export const post = apiCall("POST")
+export const get = apiCall("GET")
+export const patch = apiCall("PATCH")
+export const del = apiCall("DELETE")
+export const put = apiCall("PUT")
 
 export default {
   post,
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/components/start/CreateAppModal.svelte b/packages/builder/src/components/start/CreateAppModal.svelte
index d2232f7604..f012860194 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/components/start/CreateAppModal.svelte
+++ b/packages/builder/src/components/start/CreateAppModal.svelte
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   import { AppsIcon, InfoIcon, CloseIcon } from "components/common/Icons/"
   import { getContext } from "svelte"
   import { fade } from "svelte/transition"
+  import { post } from "builderStore/api"
 
   const { open, close } = getContext("simple-modal")
 
@@ -33,15 +34,7 @@
       const data = { name, description }
       loading = true
       try {
-        const response = await fetch("/api/applications", {
-          method: "POST", // *GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.
-          credentials: "same-origin", // include, *same-origin, omit
-          headers: {
-            "Content-Type": "application/json",
-            // 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
-          },
-          body: JSON.stringify(data), // body data type must match "Content-Type" header
-        })
+        const response = await post("/api/applications", data)
 
         const res = await response.json()
 
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/pages/[application]/_reset.svelte b/packages/builder/src/pages/[application]/_reset.svelte
index d973ba7517..2eec749c8f 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/pages/[application]/_reset.svelte
+++ b/packages/builder/src/pages/[application]/_reset.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script>
   import Modal from "svelte-simple-modal"
   import { store } from "builderStore"
+  import { get } from "builderStore/api"
 
   import { fade } from "svelte/transition"
   import { isActive, goto, layout } from "@sveltech/routify"
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@
   let promise = getPackage()
 
   async function getPackage() {
-    const res = await fetch(`/api/${application}/appPackage`)
+    const res = await get(`/api/${application}/appPackage`)
     const pkg = await res.json()
 
     if (res.ok) {
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/pages/index.svelte b/packages/builder/src/pages/index.svelte
index 97df61ebb0..7298dfe104 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/pages/index.svelte
+++ b/packages/builder/src/pages/index.svelte
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@
   import { onMount } from "svelte"
   import ActionButton from "components/common/ActionButton.svelte"
   import IconButton from "components/common/IconButton.svelte"
-
+  import { get } from "builderStore/api"
   import Spinner from "components/common/Spinner.svelte"
   import CreateAppModal from "components/start/CreateAppModal.svelte"
 
   let promise = getApps()
 
   async function getApps() {
-    const res = await fetch(`/api/applications`)
+    const res = await get("/api/applications")
     const json = await res.json()
 
     if (res.ok) {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/middleware/authenticated.js b/packages/server/src/middleware/authenticated.js
index 9308d1b173..4ce99f7d3a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/middleware/authenticated.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/middleware/authenticated.js
@@ -13,23 +13,34 @@ module.exports = async (ctx, next) => {
     return
   }
 
-  if (ctx.cookies.get("builder:token") === env.ADMIN_SECRET) {
-    ctx.isAuthenticated = true
-    ctx.isBuilder = true
+  const appToken = ctx.cookies.get("budibase:token")
+  const builderToken = ctx.cookies.get("builder:token")
+  const isBuilderAgent = ctx.headers["user-agent"] === "Budibase Builder"
+
+  // all admin api access should auth with buildertoken and 'Budibase Builder user agent
+  const shouldAuthAsBuilder = isBuilderAgent && builderToken
+
+  if (shouldAuthAsBuilder) {
+    if (builderToken === env.ADMIN_SECRET) {
+      ctx.isAuthenticated = true
+      ctx.isBuilder = true
+    } else {
+      ctx.isAuthenticated = false
+      ctx.isBuilder = false
+    }
+
     await next()
     return
   }
 
-  const token = ctx.cookies.get("budibase:token")
-
-  if (!token) {
+  if (!appToken) {
     ctx.isAuthenticated = false
     await next()
     return
   }
 
   try {
-    const jwtPayload = jwt.verify(token, ctx.config.jwtSecret)
+    const jwtPayload = jwt.verify(appToken, ctx.config.jwtSecret)
 
     ctx.user = {
       ...jwtPayload,