diff --git a/admin/settings/development.php b/admin/settings/development.php
index b7ac470620d..e490c43bbbf 100644
--- a/admin/settings/development.php
+++ b/admin/settings/development.php
@@ -45,5 +45,14 @@ if ($hassiteconfig) { // speedup for non-admins, add all caps used on this page
         $ADMIN->add('development', new admin_externalpage('mnettestclient', get_string('testclient', 'mnet'), "$CFG->wwwroot/$CFG->admin/mnet/testclient.php"));
     }
 
+    // lock block to hidden if global search is disabled.
+    if ($CFG->enableglobalsearch != 1) {
+        //get the one block.
+        if (!$block = $DB->get_record('block', array('name'=>'search'))) {
+            print_error('blockdoesnotexist', 'error');
+        }
+        $DB->set_field('block', 'visible', '0', array('id'=>$block->id));      // Hide block
+    }
+
     $ADMIN->add('development', new admin_externalpage('purgecaches', get_string('purgecaches','admin'), "$CFG->wwwroot/$CFG->admin/purgecaches.php"));
 } // end of speedup