diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/page-list/edit.js b/packages/block-library/src/page-list/edit.js
index 9440b08aad3ce6..6433926b73d6fa 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/page-list/edit.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/page-list/edit.js
@@ -103,6 +103,14 @@ export default function PageListEdit( { context, clientId } ) {
 
 function useFrontPageId() {
 	return useSelect( ( select ) => {
+		const canReadSettings = select( coreStore ).canUser(
+			'read',
+			'settings'
+		);
+		if ( ! canReadSettings ) {
+			return undefined;
+		}
+
 		const site = select( coreStore ).getEntityRecord( 'root', 'site' );
 		return site?.show_on_front === 'page' && site?.page_on_front;
 	}, [] );
@@ -117,6 +125,7 @@ function usePageData() {
 			order: 'asc',
 			_fields: [ 'id', 'link', 'parent', 'title', 'menu_order' ],
 			per_page: -1,
+			context: 'view',
 		}
 	);