diff --git a/app/helpers/search_helper.rb b/app/helpers/search_helper.rb
index ae0e0aa3cf9..98e824a8c65 100644
--- a/app/helpers/search_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/search_helper.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module SearchHelper
     search_pattern = Regexp.new(Regexp.escape(term), "i")
 
     generic_results = project_autocomplete + default_autocomplete + help_autocomplete
+    generic_results.concat(default_autocomplete_admin) if current_user.admin?
     generic_results.select! { |result| result[:label] =~ search_pattern }
 
     [
@@ -41,8 +42,14 @@ module SearchHelper
     [
       { category: "Settings", label: "User settings",    url: profile_path },
       { category: "Settings", label: "SSH Keys",         url: profile_keys_path },
-      { category: "Settings", label: "Dashboard",        url: root_path },
-      { category: "Settings", label: "Admin Section",    url: admin_root_path }
+      { category: "Settings", label: "Dashboard",        url: root_path }
+    ]
+  end
+
+  # Autocomplete results for settings pages, for admins
+  def default_autocomplete_admin
+    [
+      { category: "Settings", label: "Admin Section", url: admin_root_path }
     ]
   end
 
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/19650-remove-admin-section-from-search-results-if-user-doesnt-have-access.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/19650-remove-admin-section-from-search-results-if-user-doesnt-have-access.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6d5baa8c10f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/19650-remove-admin-section-from-search-results-if-user-doesnt-have-access.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Hide admin link from default search results for non-admins
+merge_request: 14015
+author:
+type: fixed
diff --git a/spec/helpers/search_helper_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/search_helper_spec.rb
index 463af15930d..ab647401e14 100644
--- a/spec/helpers/search_helper_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/helpers/search_helper_spec.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ describe SearchHelper do
       end
     end
 
-    context "with a user" do
+    context "with a standard user" do
       let(:user)   { create(:user) }
 
       before do
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@ describe SearchHelper do
       end
 
       it "includes default sections" do
-        expect(search_autocomplete_opts("adm").size).to eq(1)
+        expect(search_autocomplete_opts("dash").size).to eq(1)
+      end
+
+      it "does not include admin sections" do
+        expect(search_autocomplete_opts("admin").size).to eq(0)
       end
 
       it "does not allow regular expression in search term" do
@@ -67,6 +71,18 @@ describe SearchHelper do
         end
       end
     end
+
+    context 'with an admin user' do
+      let(:admin) { create(:admin) }
+
+      before do
+        allow(self).to receive(:current_user).and_return(admin)
+      end
+
+      it "includes admin sections" do
+        expect(search_autocomplete_opts("admin").size).to eq(1)
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe 'search_filter_input_options' do