diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.js b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.js
index 0c92959db8..e59d2cb38f 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/internal.js
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ exports.bulkDestroy = async ctx => {
 
 exports.search = async ctx => {
   // Fetch the whole table when running in cypress, as search doesn't work
-  if (env.isCypress()) {
+  if (!env.COUCH_DB_URL && env.isCypress()) {
     return { rows: await exports.fetch(ctx) }
   }