diff --git a/apps/meerkat/src/app/distributed/search_i.ts b/apps/meerkat/src/app/distributed/search_i.ts
index 61559a253..65b57bd36 100644
--- a/apps/meerkat/src/app/distributed/search_i.ts
+++ b/apps/meerkat/src/app/distributed/search_i.ts
@@ -3091,6 +3091,7 @@ async function search_i_ex (
         if ( // If we are using Meerkat DSA's deviation for searches...
             !ctx.config.principledServiceAdministration
             && (searchState.depth > 0) // ...and we are beneath the baseObject...
+            && !subentries // ...and we are not searching for subentries only...
             && ( // ...and we are in a new service admin area...
                 ( /* Which can happen if the search was already within a service
                     admin area and it is now in a new one...  */