diff --git a/lib/pleroma/user/search.ex b/lib/pleroma/user/search.ex
index a4f6abca2..6b3f58999 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/user/search.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/user/search.ex
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User.Search do
     |> subquery()
     |> order_by(desc: :search_rank)
     |> maybe_restrict_local(for_user)
+    |> filter_deactivated_users()
   end
 
   defp select_top_users(query, top_user_ids) do
@@ -166,6 +167,10 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User.Search do
     from(q in query, where: q.actor_type != "Application")
   end
 
+  defp filter_deactivated_users(query) do
+    from(q in query, where: q.is_active == true)
+  end
+
   defp filter_blocked_user(query, %User{} = blocker) do
     query
     |> join(:left, [u], b in Pleroma.UserRelationship,
diff --git a/test/pleroma/user_search_test.exs b/test/pleroma/user_search_test.exs
index 69167bb0c..8634a2e2b 100644
--- a/test/pleroma/user_search_test.exs
+++ b/test/pleroma/user_search_test.exs
@@ -65,6 +65,14 @@ defmodule Pleroma.UserSearchTest do
       assert found_user.id == user.id
     end
 
+    test "excludes deactivated users from results" do
+      user = insert(:user, %{nickname: "john t1000"})
+      insert(:user, %{is_active: false, nickname: "john t800"})
+
+      [found_user] = User.search("john")
+      assert found_user.id == user.id
+    end
+
     # Note: as in Mastodon, `is_discoverable` doesn't anyhow relate to user searchability
     test "includes non-discoverable users in results" do
       insert(:user, %{nickname: "john 3000", is_discoverable: false})