diff --git a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.h b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.h
index a196bd788..eeb3185a8 100644
--- a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.h
+++ b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.h
@@ -66,6 +66,13 @@
  */
 @property (weak, nonatomic) IBOutlet UITableView *contactsTableView;
 
+/**
+ When true, the footer that allows the user to grant access to their contacts will
+ never be shown. When false, the footer will shown when the required access is
+ not available.
+ */
+@property (nonatomic) BOOL hideRequestContactAccessFooter;
+
 /**
  If YES, the table view will scroll at the top on the next data source refresh.
  It comes back to NO after each refresh.
diff --git a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.m b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.m
index ee60995da..03e0e7107 100644
--- a/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.m
+++ b/Riot/Modules/Contacts/ContactsTableViewController.m
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@
 {
     [super finalizeInit];
     
+    // Allow the contact access footer to be shown when necessary.
+    self.hideRequestContactAccessFooter = NO;
+    
     // Setup `MXKViewControllerHandling` properties
     self.enableBarTintColorStatusChange = NO;
     self.rageShakeManager = [RageShakeManager sharedManager];
@@ -211,7 +214,7 @@
 
 - (void)updateFooterView
 {
-    if (!BuildSettings.allowLocalContactsAccess)
+    if (!BuildSettings.allowLocalContactsAccess || self.hideRequestContactAccessFooter)
     {
         self.contactsTableView.tableFooterView = [[UIView alloc] init];
         return;
diff --git a/Riot/Modules/GlobalSearch/UnifiedSearchViewController.m b/Riot/Modules/GlobalSearch/UnifiedSearchViewController.m
index bec3f836f..12a63f041 100644
--- a/Riot/Modules/GlobalSearch/UnifiedSearchViewController.m
+++ b/Riot/Modules/GlobalSearch/UnifiedSearchViewController.m
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@
     [titles addObject: NSLocalizedStringFromTable(@"search_people", @"Vector", nil)];
     peopleSearchViewController = [ContactsTableViewController contactsTableViewController];
     peopleSearchViewController.contactsTableViewControllerDelegate = self;
+    peopleSearchViewController.hideRequestContactAccessFooter = YES;
     [viewControllers addObject:peopleSearchViewController];
     
     // add Files tab