diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_search.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_search.py
index f1de918d..b2f3bbcc 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_search.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from bookwyrm.connectors import abstract_connector
 from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
 
 
-class ShelfViews(TestCase):
+class Views(TestCase):
     """tag views"""
 
     def setUp(self):
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class ShelfViews(TestCase):
         response = view(request)
 
         response.render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.context_data["results"], {})
+        self.assertEqual(response.context_data["results"].object_list.count(), 0)
 
     def test_search_lists(self):
         """searches remote connectors"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/search.py b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
index b76f2392..4b9100fb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def user_search(query, viewer, *_):
     """cool kids members only user search"""
     # logged out viewers can't search users
     if not viewer.is_authenticated:
-        return {}
+        return models.User.objects.none()
 
     # use webfinger for mastodon style account@domain.com username to load the user if
     # they don't exist locally (handle_remote_webfinger will check the db)