diff --git a/qiita_pet/handlers/study_handlers/listing_handlers.py b/qiita_pet/handlers/study_handlers/listing_handlers.py
index 2d10365c5..1e1f2b5b2 100644
--- a/qiita_pet/handlers/study_handlers/listing_handlers.py
+++ b/qiita_pet/handlers/study_handlers/listing_handlers.py
@@ -71,15 +71,16 @@ def _build_study_info(user, search_type, study_proc=None, proc_samples=None):
         build_samples = True
 
     # get list of studies for table
+    user_study_set = user.user_studies.union(user.shared_studies)
     if search_type == 'user':
-        user_study_set = user.user_studies.union(user.shared_studies)
         if user.level == 'admin':
             user_study_set = (user_study_set |
                               Study.get_by_status('sandbox') |
-                              Study.get_by_status('private'))
-        study_set = user_study_set - Study.get_by_status('public')
+                              Study.get_by_status('private') -
+                              Study.get_by_status('public'))
+        study_set = user_study_set
     elif search_type == 'public':
-        study_set = Study.get_by_status('public')
+        study_set = Study.get_by_status('public') - user_study_set
     else:
         raise ValueError('Not a valid search type')
     if study_proc is not None:
diff --git a/qiita_pet/handlers/study_handlers/tests/test_listing_handlers.py b/qiita_pet/handlers/study_handlers/tests/test_listing_handlers.py
index 314efbb92..f411481c4 100644
--- a/qiita_pet/handlers/study_handlers/tests/test_listing_handlers.py
+++ b/qiita_pet/handlers/study_handlers/tests/test_listing_handlers.py
@@ -84,9 +84,36 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.exp = [self.single_exp]
 
     def test_build_study_info(self):
+        for a in Study(1).artifacts():
+            a.visibility = 'private'
+
         obs = _build_study_info(User('test@foo.bar'), 'user')
         self.assertEqual(obs, self.exp)
 
+        obs = _build_study_info(User('test@foo.bar'), 'public')
+        self.assertEqual(obs, [])
+
+        obs = _build_study_info(User('demo@microbio.me'), 'public')
+        self.assertEqual(obs, [])
+
+        # make all the artifacts public - (1) the only study in the tests,
+        for a in Study(1).artifacts():
+            a.visibility = 'public'
+        self.exp[0]['status'] = 'public'
+
+        obs = _build_study_info(User('test@foo.bar'), 'user')
+        self.assertEqual(obs, self.exp)
+
+        obs = _build_study_info(User('test@foo.bar'), 'public')
+        self.assertEqual(obs, [])
+
+        obs = _build_study_info(User('demo@microbio.me'), 'public')
+        self.assertEqual(obs, self.exp)
+
+        # return to it's private status
+        for a in Study(1).artifacts():
+            a.visibility = 'private'
+
     def test_build_study_info_erros(self):
         with self.assertRaises(IncompetentQiitaDeveloperError):
             _build_study_info(User('test@foo.bar'), 'user', study_proc={})