diff --git a/datasette/app.py b/datasette/app.py
index 09936b3a..177debe2 100644
--- a/datasette/app.py
+++ b/datasette/app.py
@@ -2363,6 +2363,12 @@ class NotFoundExplicit(NotFound):
 
 
 class DatasetteClient:
+    """Internal HTTP client for making requests to a Datasette instance.
+
+    Used for testing and for internal operations that need to make HTTP requests
+    to the Datasette app without going through an actual HTTP server.
+    """
+
     def __init__(self, ds):
         self.ds = ds
         self.app = ds.app()
@@ -2378,40 +2384,87 @@ class DatasetteClient:
             path = f"http://localhost{path}"
         return path
 
-    async def _request(self, method, path, **kwargs):
-        async with httpx.AsyncClient(
-            transport=httpx.ASGITransport(app=self.app),
-            cookies=kwargs.pop("cookies", None),
-        ) as client:
-            return await getattr(client, method)(self._fix(path), **kwargs)
+    async def _request(self, method, path, skip_permission_checks=False, **kwargs):
+        from datasette.permissions import SkipPermissions
 
-    async def get(self, path, **kwargs):
-        return await self._request("get", path, **kwargs)
+        if skip_permission_checks:
+            with SkipPermissions():
+                async with httpx.AsyncClient(
+                    transport=httpx.ASGITransport(app=self.app),
+                    cookies=kwargs.pop("cookies", None),
+                ) as client:
+                    return await getattr(client, method)(self._fix(path), **kwargs)
+        else:
+            async with httpx.AsyncClient(
+                transport=httpx.ASGITransport(app=self.app),
+                cookies=kwargs.pop("cookies", None),
+            ) as client:
+                return await getattr(client, method)(self._fix(path), **kwargs)
 
-    async def options(self, path, **kwargs):
-        return await self._request("options", path, **kwargs)
+    async def get(self, path, skip_permission_checks=False, **kwargs):
+        return await self._request(
+            "get", path, skip_permission_checks=skip_permission_checks, **kwargs
+        )
 
-    async def head(self, path, **kwargs):
-        return await self._request("head", path, **kwargs)
+    async def options(self, path, skip_permission_checks=False, **kwargs):
+        return await self._request(
+            "options", path, skip_permission_checks=skip_permission_checks, **kwargs
+        )
 
-    async def post(self, path, **kwargs):
-        return await self._request("post", path, **kwargs)
+    async def head(self, path, skip_permission_checks=False, **kwargs):
+        return await self._request(
+            "head", path, skip_permission_checks=skip_permission_checks, **kwargs
+        )
 
-    async def put(self, path, **kwargs):
-        return await self._request("put", path, **kwargs)
+    async def post(self, path, skip_permission_checks=False, **kwargs):
+        return await self._request(
+            "post", path, skip_permission_checks=skip_permission_checks, **kwargs
+        )
 
-    async def patch(self, path, **kwargs):
-        return await self._request("patch", path, **kwargs)
+    async def put(self, path, skip_permission_checks=False, **kwargs):
+        return await self._request(
+            "put", path, skip_permission_checks=skip_permission_checks, **kwargs
+        )
 
-    async def delete(self, path, **kwargs):
-        return await self._request("delete", path, **kwargs)
+    async def patch(self, path, skip_permission_checks=False, **kwargs):
+        return await self._request(
+            "patch", path, skip_permission_checks=skip_permission_checks, **kwargs
+        )
+
+    async def delete(self, path, skip_permission_checks=False, **kwargs):
+        return await self._request(
+            "delete", path, skip_permission_checks=skip_permission_checks, **kwargs
+        )
+
+    async def request(self, method, path, skip_permission_checks=False, **kwargs):
+        """Make an HTTP request with the specified method.
+
+        Args:
+            method: HTTP method (e.g., "GET", "POST", "PUT")
+            path: The path to request
+            skip_permission_checks: If True, bypass all permission checks for this request
+            **kwargs: Additional arguments to pass to httpx
+
+        Returns:
+            httpx.Response: The response from the request
+        """
+        from datasette.permissions import SkipPermissions
 
-    async def request(self, method, path, **kwargs):
         avoid_path_rewrites = kwargs.pop("avoid_path_rewrites", None)
-        async with httpx.AsyncClient(
-            transport=httpx.ASGITransport(app=self.app),
-            cookies=kwargs.pop("cookies", None),
-        ) as client:
-            return await client.request(
-                method, self._fix(path, avoid_path_rewrites), **kwargs
-            )
+        if skip_permission_checks:
+            with SkipPermissions():
+                async with httpx.AsyncClient(
+                    transport=httpx.ASGITransport(app=self.app),
+                    cookies=kwargs.pop("cookies", None),
+                ) as client:
+                    return await client.request(
+                        method, self._fix(path, avoid_path_rewrites), **kwargs
+                    )
+        else:
+            async with httpx.AsyncClient(
+                transport=httpx.ASGITransport(app=self.app),
+                cookies=kwargs.pop("cookies", None),
+            ) as client:
+                return await client.request(
+                    method, self._fix(path, avoid_path_rewrites), **kwargs
+                )
diff --git a/datasette/permissions.py b/datasette/permissions.py
index c91385a0..c48293ac 100644
--- a/datasette/permissions.py
+++ b/datasette/permissions.py
@@ -1,6 +1,33 @@
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Any, NamedTuple
+import contextvars
+
+
+# Context variable to track when permission checks should be skipped
+_skip_permission_checks = contextvars.ContextVar(
+    "skip_permission_checks", default=False
+)
+
+
+class SkipPermissions:
+    """Context manager to temporarily skip permission checks.
+
+    This is not a stable API and may change in future releases.
+
+    Usage:
+        with SkipPermissions():
+            # Permission checks are skipped within this block
+            response = await datasette.client.get("/protected")
+    """
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        self.token = _skip_permission_checks.set(True)
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb):
+        _skip_permission_checks.reset(self.token)
+        return False
 
 
 class Resource(ABC):
diff --git a/datasette/utils/actions_sql.py b/datasette/utils/actions_sql.py
index 7121e2d0..9c2add0e 100644
--- a/datasette/utils/actions_sql.py
+++ b/datasette/utils/actions_sql.py
@@ -155,6 +155,16 @@ async def _build_single_action_sql(
         action=action,
     )
 
+    # If permission_sqls is the sentinel, skip all permission checks
+    # Return SQL that allows all resources
+    from datasette.utils.permissions import SKIP_PERMISSION_CHECKS
+
+    if permission_sqls is SKIP_PERMISSION_CHECKS:
+        cols = "parent, child, 'skip_permission_checks' AS reason"
+        if include_is_private:
+            cols += ", 0 AS is_private"
+        return f"SELECT {cols} FROM ({base_resources_sql})", {}
+
     all_params = {}
     rule_sqls = []
     restriction_sqls = []
@@ -436,6 +446,17 @@ async def build_permission_rules_sql(
         action=action,
     )
 
+    # If permission_sqls is the sentinel, skip all permission checks
+    # Return SQL that allows everything
+    from datasette.utils.permissions import SKIP_PERMISSION_CHECKS
+
+    if permission_sqls is SKIP_PERMISSION_CHECKS:
+        return (
+            "SELECT NULL AS parent, NULL AS child, 1 AS allow, 'skip_permission_checks' AS reason, 'skip' AS source_plugin",
+            {},
+            [],
+        )
+
     if not permission_sqls:
         return (
             "SELECT NULL AS parent, NULL AS child, 0 AS allow, NULL AS reason, NULL AS source_plugin WHERE 0",
diff --git a/datasette/utils/permissions.py b/datasette/utils/permissions.py
index 58be53a3..6c30a12a 100644
--- a/datasette/utils/permissions.py
+++ b/datasette/utils/permissions.py
@@ -10,13 +10,26 @@ from datasette.plugins import pm
 from datasette.utils import await_me_maybe
 
 
+# Sentinel object to indicate permission checks should be skipped
+SKIP_PERMISSION_CHECKS = object()
+
+
 async def gather_permission_sql_from_hooks(
     *, datasette, actor: dict | None, action: str
-) -> List[PermissionSQL]:
+) -> List[PermissionSQL] | object:
     """Collect PermissionSQL objects from the permission_resources_sql hook.
 
     Ensures that each returned PermissionSQL has a populated ``source``.
+
+    Returns SKIP_PERMISSION_CHECKS sentinel if skip_permission_checks context variable
+    is set, signaling that all permission checks should be bypassed.
     """
+    from datasette.permissions import _skip_permission_checks
+
+    # Check if we should skip permission checks BEFORE calling hooks
+    # This avoids creating unawaited coroutines
+    if _skip_permission_checks.get():
+        return SKIP_PERMISSION_CHECKS
 
     hook_caller = pm.hook.permission_resources_sql
     hookimpls = hook_caller.get_hookimpls()
diff --git a/docs/internals.rst b/docs/internals.rst
index 406bc9b3..468b3f95 100644
--- a/docs/internals.rst
+++ b/docs/internals.rst
@@ -1045,6 +1045,36 @@ These methods can be used with :ref:`internals_datasette_urls` - for example:
 
 For documentation on available ``**kwargs`` options and the shape of the HTTPX Response object refer to the `HTTPX Async documentation <https://www.python-httpx.org/async/>`__.
 
+Bypassing permission checks
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+All ``datasette.client`` methods accept an optional ``skip_permission_checks=True`` parameter. When set, all permission checks will be bypassed for that request, allowing access to any resource regardless of the configured permissions.
+
+This is useful for plugins and internal operations that need to access all resources without being subject to permission restrictions.
+
+Example usage:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    # Regular request - respects permissions
+    response = await datasette.client.get(
+        "/private-db/secret-table.json"
+    )
+    # May return 403 Forbidden if access is denied
+
+    # With skip_permission_checks - bypasses all permission checks
+    response = await datasette.client.get(
+        "/private-db/secret-table.json",
+        skip_permission_checks=True,
+    )
+    # Will return 200 OK and the data, regardless of permissions
+
+This parameter works with all HTTP methods (``get``, ``post``, ``put``, ``patch``, ``delete``, ``options``, ``head``) and the generic ``request`` method.
+
+.. warning::
+
+    Use ``skip_permission_checks=True`` with caution. It completely bypasses Datasette's permission system and should only be used in trusted plugin code or internal operations where you need guaranteed access to resources.
+
 .. _internals_datasette_urls:
 
 datasette.urls
diff --git a/tests/test_internals_datasette_client.py b/tests/test_internals_datasette_client.py
index afc9b335..55f7392f 100644
--- a/tests/test_internals_datasette_client.py
+++ b/tests/test_internals_datasette_client.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import httpx
 import pytest
 import pytest_asyncio
+from datasette.app import Datasette
 
 
 @pytest_asyncio.fixture
@@ -9,6 +10,23 @@ async def datasette(ds_client):
     return ds_client.ds
 
 
+@pytest_asyncio.fixture
+async def datasette_with_permissions():
+    """A datasette instance with permission restrictions for testing"""
+    ds = Datasette(config={"databases": {"test_db": {"allow": {"id": "admin"}}}})
+    await ds.invoke_startup()
+    db = ds.add_memory_database("test_db")
+    await db.execute_write(
+        "create table if not exists test_table (id integer primary key, name text)"
+    )
+    await db.execute_write(
+        "insert or ignore into test_table (id, name) values (1, 'Alice')"
+    )
+    # Trigger catalog refresh
+    await ds.client.get("/")
+    return ds
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "method,path,expected_status",
@@ -65,3 +83,147 @@ async def test_client_path(datasette, prefix, expected_path):
         assert path == expected_path
     finally:
         datasette._settings["base_url"] = original_base_url
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_skip_permission_checks_allows_forbidden_access(
+    datasette_with_permissions,
+):
+    """Test that skip_permission_checks=True bypasses permission checks"""
+    ds = datasette_with_permissions
+
+    # Without skip_permission_checks, anonymous user should get 403 for protected database
+    response = await ds.client.get("/test_db.json")
+    assert response.status_code == 403
+
+    # With skip_permission_checks=True, should get 200
+    response = await ds.client.get("/test_db.json", skip_permission_checks=True)
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+    assert data["database"] == "test_db"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_skip_permission_checks_on_table(datasette_with_permissions):
+    """Test skip_permission_checks works for table access"""
+    ds = datasette_with_permissions
+
+    # Without skip_permission_checks, should get 403
+    response = await ds.client.get("/test_db/test_table.json")
+    assert response.status_code == 403
+
+    # With skip_permission_checks=True, should get table data
+    response = await ds.client.get(
+        "/test_db/test_table.json", skip_permission_checks=True
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+    assert data["rows"] == [{"id": 1, "name": "Alice"}]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "method", ["get", "post", "put", "patch", "delete", "options", "head"]
+)
+async def test_skip_permission_checks_all_methods(datasette_with_permissions, method):
+    """Test that skip_permission_checks works with all HTTP methods"""
+    ds = datasette_with_permissions
+
+    # All methods should work with skip_permission_checks=True
+    client_method = getattr(ds.client, method)
+    response = await client_method("/test_db.json", skip_permission_checks=True)
+    # We don't check status code since some methods might not be allowed,
+    # but we verify the request doesn't fail due to permissions
+    assert isinstance(response, httpx.Response)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_skip_permission_checks_request_method(datasette_with_permissions):
+    """Test that skip_permission_checks works with client.request()"""
+    ds = datasette_with_permissions
+
+    # Without skip_permission_checks
+    response = await ds.client.request("GET", "/test_db.json")
+    assert response.status_code == 403
+
+    # With skip_permission_checks=True
+    response = await ds.client.request(
+        "GET", "/test_db.json", skip_permission_checks=True
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_skip_permission_checks_isolated_to_request(datasette_with_permissions):
+    """Test that skip_permission_checks doesn't affect other concurrent requests"""
+    ds = datasette_with_permissions
+
+    # First request with skip_permission_checks=True should succeed
+    response1 = await ds.client.get("/test_db.json", skip_permission_checks=True)
+    assert response1.status_code == 200
+
+    # Subsequent request without it should still get 403
+    response2 = await ds.client.get("/test_db.json")
+    assert response2.status_code == 403
+
+    # And another with skip should succeed again
+    response3 = await ds.client.get("/test_db.json", skip_permission_checks=True)
+    assert response3.status_code == 200
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_skip_permission_checks_with_admin_actor(datasette_with_permissions):
+    """Test that skip_permission_checks works even when actor is provided"""
+    ds = datasette_with_permissions
+
+    # Admin actor should normally have access
+    admin_cookies = {"ds_actor": ds.client.actor_cookie({"id": "admin"})}
+    response = await ds.client.get("/test_db.json", cookies=admin_cookies)
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+
+    # Non-admin actor should get 403
+    user_cookies = {"ds_actor": ds.client.actor_cookie({"id": "user"})}
+    response = await ds.client.get("/test_db.json", cookies=user_cookies)
+    assert response.status_code == 403
+
+    # Non-admin actor with skip_permission_checks=True should get 200
+    response = await ds.client.get(
+        "/test_db.json", cookies=user_cookies, skip_permission_checks=True
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_skip_permission_checks_shows_denied_tables():
+    """Test that skip_permission_checks=True shows tables from denied databases in /-/tables.json"""
+    ds = Datasette(
+        config={
+            "databases": {
+                "fixtures": {"allow": False}  # Deny all access to this database
+            }
+        }
+    )
+    await ds.invoke_startup()
+    db = ds.add_memory_database("fixtures")
+    await db.execute_write(
+        "CREATE TABLE test_table (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT)"
+    )
+    await db.execute_write("INSERT INTO test_table (id, name) VALUES (1, 'Alice')")
+    await ds._refresh_schemas()
+
+    # Without skip_permission_checks, tables from denied database should not appear in /-/tables.json
+    response = await ds.client.get("/-/tables.json")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+    table_names = [match["name"] for match in data["matches"]]
+    # Should not see any fixtures tables since access is denied
+    fixtures_tables = [name for name in table_names if name.startswith("fixtures:")]
+    assert len(fixtures_tables) == 0
+
+    # With skip_permission_checks=True, tables from denied database SHOULD appear
+    response = await ds.client.get("/-/tables.json", skip_permission_checks=True)
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+    table_names = [match["name"] for match in data["matches"]]
+    # Should see fixtures tables when permission checks are skipped
+    assert "fixtures: test_table" in table_names