diff --git a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.m b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.m
index c16a8b021..ee60995da 100644
--- a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.m
+++ b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.m
@@ -276,7 +276,6 @@
     
     contactsDataSource = listDataSource;
     contactsDataSource.delegate = self;
-    contactsDataSource.showLocalContacts = MXKAppSettings.standardAppSettings.syncLocalContacts;
     
     if (self.contactsTableView)
     {
diff --git a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/DataSources/ContactsDataSource.h b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/DataSources/ContactsDataSource.h
index f81a83f25..ea6db9c2e 100644
--- a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/DataSources/ContactsDataSource.h
+++ b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/DataSources/ContactsDataSource.h
@@ -51,8 +51,10 @@ typedef enum : NSUInteger
 }
 
 /**
- Whether the data source should include local contacts in the table view.
- Note: Updating this property does not automatically refresh the data source.
+ Whether the data source should include local contacts in the table view. The default
+ value is set at initialisation to match the `MXKAppSettings` value for `syncLocalContacts`.
+ Note: After updating this property, the table view's data will need to be reloaded for it to have
+ any effect.
  */
 @property (nonatomic) BOOL showLocalContacts;
 
diff --git a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/DataSources/ContactsDataSource.m b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/DataSources/ContactsDataSource.m
index d4a00b4ce..7909dea8c 100644
--- a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/DataSources/ContactsDataSource.m
+++ b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/DataSources/ContactsDataSource.m
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
         _areSectionsShrinkable = NO;
         shrinkedSectionsBitMask = 0;
         
+        _showLocalContacts = MXKAppSettings.standardAppSettings.syncLocalContacts;
         hideNonMatrixEnabledContacts = NO;
         
         _displaySearchInputInContactsList = NO;
diff --git a/Riot/Modules/GlobalSearch/UnifiedSearchViewController.m b/Riot/Modules/GlobalSearch/UnifiedSearchViewController.m
index e79e9a055..bec3f836f 100644
--- a/Riot/Modules/GlobalSearch/UnifiedSearchViewController.m
+++ b/Riot/Modules/GlobalSearch/UnifiedSearchViewController.m
@@ -245,6 +245,7 @@
         
         // Init the search for people
         peopleSearchDataSource = [[ContactsDataSource alloc] initWithMatrixSession:mainSession];
+        peopleSearchDataSource.showLocalContacts = NO;
         peopleSearchDataSource.areSectionsShrinkable = YES;
         peopleSearchDataSource.displaySearchInputInContactsList = YES;
         peopleSearchDataSource.contactCellAccessoryImage = [[UIImage imageNamed: @"disclosure_icon"] vc_tintedImageUsingColor:ThemeService.shared.theme.textSecondaryColor];;