diff --git a/frontends/mit-learn/webpack.config.js b/frontends/mit-learn/webpack.config.js
index 9d48b30bd0..5adf71258b 100644
--- a/frontends/mit-learn/webpack.config.js
+++ b/frontends/mit-learn/webpack.config.js
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ const {
   }),
   DEFAULT_SEARCH_MINIMUM_SCORE_CUTOFF: num({
     desc: "The default search minimum score cutoff",
-    default: 0,
+    default: 5,
   }),
   DEFAULT_SEARCH_MAX_INCOMPLETENESS_PENALTY: num({
     desc: "The default search max incompleteness penalty",
diff --git a/main/settings.py b/main/settings.py
index 46fcc3c304..8b563f9238 100644
--- a/main/settings.py
+++ b/main/settings.py
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ def get_all_config_keys():
     name="DEFAULT_SEARCH_STALENESS_PENALTY", default=2.5
 )
 DEFAULT_SEARCH_MINIMUM_SCORE_CUTOFF = get_float(
-    name="DEFAULT_SEARCH_MINIMUM_SCORE_CUTOFF", default=0
+    name="DEFAULT_SEARCH_MINIMUM_SCORE_CUTOFF", default=5
 )
 DEFAULT_SEARCH_MAX_INCOMPLETENESS_PENALTY = get_float(
     name="DEFAULT_SEARCH_MAX_INCOMPLETENESS_PENALTY", default=90