diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/search.py b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
index 673de23a..cdea8663 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def user_search(query, viewer, *_):
     """cool kids members only user search"""
     # logged out viewers can't search users
     if not viewer.is_authenticated:
-        return models.User.objects.none()
+        return models.User.objects.none(), 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)