diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index 1ae7eee3977cb..7f36e3b5a7649 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -160,7 +160,8 @@
                 if (isloggedin() && !isset($USER->admin) && empty($CFG->disablemycourses)) {
                     print_heading_block(get_string('mycourses'));
                     print_my_moodle();
-                } else {
+                } else if (!isadmin() or (count_records('course') <= FRONTPAGECOURSELIMIT)) {
+                    // admin should not see list of courses when there are too many of them
                     print_heading_block(get_string('availablecourses'));
                     print_courses(0, '100%', true);
                 }