diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index dfb68ce1b..c849f41a6 100755
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ In order to read more about upgrading and BC breaks have a look at the [UPGRADE
 
 ## 4.1.0
 
++ [#657](https://github.com/luyadev/luya-module-admin/pull/657) Fix problem with global admin UI search when model does not exists, this could be due to old controller structure or custom code.
 + [#656](https://github.com/luyadev/luya-module-admin/pull/656) Ensure queue items are removed when schedule item is deleted, improved filter of upcoming queue events, fix issue with scheduler log for multiple attributes on the same model.
 + [#654](https://github.com/luyadev/luya-module-admin/pull/654) Fix issue with ngrest detail view when json is not an array.
 + [#496](https://github.com/luyadev/luya-module-admin/issues/496) Added default color for link elements in NgRest CRUD table.
diff --git a/src/apis/SearchController.php b/src/apis/SearchController.php
index e5bb18469..cee5a7d6c 100644
--- a/src/apis/SearchController.php
+++ b/src/apis/SearchController.php
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public function actionIndex($query)
                     ];
                 }
                 
-                unset($data);
+                unset($model, $data);
             }
         }
 
@@ -75,18 +75,23 @@ public function actionIndex($query)
             if ($api['permissionIsApi']) {
                 $ctrl = $module->createController($api['permissionApiEndpoint']);
                 $controller = $ctrl[0];
-                $data = $this->transformGenericSearchToData($controller->model->genericSearch($query));
-                if (count($data) > 0) {
-                    $search[] = [
-                        'hideFields' => $controller->model->genericSearchHiddenFields(),
-                        'type' => 'api',
-                        'menuItem' => $api,
-                        'data' => $data,
-                        'stateProvider' => $controller->model->genericSearchStateProvider(),
-                    ];
+
+                if ($controller && $controller->model && $controller->model instanceof GenericSearchInterface) {
+                    $data = $this->transformGenericSearchToData($controller->model->genericSearch($query));
+                    if (count($data) > 0) {
+                        $search[] = [
+                            'hideFields' => $controller->model->genericSearchHiddenFields(),
+                            'type' => 'api',
+                            'menuItem' => $api,
+                            'data' => $data,
+                            'stateProvider' => $controller->model->genericSearchStateProvider(),
+                        ];
+                    }
+                    
+                    unset($data);
                 }
                 
-                unset($data);
+                unset($controller, $ctrl);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/tests/admin/apis/SearchControllerTest.php b/tests/admin/apis/SearchControllerTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46d4b7e3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/admin/apis/SearchControllerTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace luya\admin\tests\admin\apis;
+
+use admintests\AdminModelTestCase;
+use luya\admin\apis\SearchController;
+use luya\admin\models\SearchData;
+use luya\testsuite\fixtures\NgRestModelFixture;
+use luya\testsuite\scopes\PermissionScope;
+
+class SearchControllerTest extends AdminModelTestCase
+{
+    public function testIndexAction()
+    {
+        PermissionScope::run($this->app, function (PermissionScope $scope) {
+            new NgRestModelFixture([
+                'modelClass' => SearchData::class,
+            ]);
+
+            $this->createAdminTagFixture([
+                1 => [
+                    'id' => 1,
+                    'name' => 'none',
+                    'translation' => 'none',
+                ]
+            ]);
+
+            $ctrl = new SearchController('search', $scope->getApp()->getModule('admin'));
+            $scope->loginUser();
+            $response = $scope->runControllerAction($ctrl, 'index', ['query' => 'test']);
+
+            $this->assertEmpty($response);
+        }, function (PermissionScope $config) {
+            $config->userFixtureData = ['is_api_user' => 0];
+        });
+    }
+}