diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/search.py b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
index df891266..4c19a193 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
@@ -67,11 +67,11 @@ class Search(View):
         return TemplateResponse(request, f"search/{search_type}.html", data)
 
 
-def book_search(query, _, min_confidence, search_remote=False):
+def book_search(query, user, min_confidence, search_remote=False):
     """the real business is elsewhere"""
     # try a local-only search
     results = [{"results": search(query, min_confidence=min_confidence)}]
-    if results and not search_remote:
+    if not user.is_authenticated or (results and not search_remote):
         return results, False
 
     # if there were no local results, or the request was for remote, search all sources