diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/sns_topic-cross-account.yml b/changelogs/fragments/sns_topic-cross-account.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..968811b7693
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/sns_topic-cross-account.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+- sns_topic - avoid fetching attributes from subscribers when not setting them, this can cause permissions issues (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.aws/pull/1418).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/sns_topic.py b/plugins/modules/sns_topic.py
index 7bf643cb96e..bcaf44a8840 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/sns_topic.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/sns_topic.py
@@ -519,8 +519,8 @@ def _set_topic_subs_attributes(self):
         for sub in list_topic_subscriptions(self.connection, self.module, self.topic_arn):
             sub_key = (sub['Protocol'], sub['Endpoint'])
             sub_arn = sub['SubscriptionArn']
-            if sub_key not in self.desired_subscription_attributes:
-                # subscription isn't defined in desired, skipping
+            if not self.desired_subscription_attributes.get(sub_key):
+                # subscription attributes aren't defined in desired, skipping
                 continue
 
             try: