diff --git a/extensions/mentions/js/src/forum/addComposerAutocomplete.js b/extensions/mentions/js/src/forum/addComposerAutocomplete.js
index 1fedafeac..c93ef2d44 100644
--- a/extensions/mentions/js/src/forum/addComposerAutocomplete.js
+++ b/extensions/mentions/js/src/forum/addComposerAutocomplete.js
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ export default function addComposerAutocomplete() {
 
         // Don't send API calls searching for users until at least 2 characters have been typed.
         // This focuses the mention results on users and posts in the discussion.
-        if (typed.length > 1) {
+        if (typed.length > 1 && app.forum.attribute('canSearchUsers')) {
           throttledSearch(typed, searched, returnedUsers, returnedUserIds, dropdown, buildSuggestions);
         }
       }