diff --git a/rero_ils/modules/items/api/circulation.py b/rero_ils/modules/items/api/circulation.py
index c15c42e824..dd21abf824 100644
--- a/rero_ils/modules/items/api/circulation.py
+++ b/rero_ils/modules/items/api/circulation.py
@@ -1241,7 +1241,10 @@ def available(self):
         An item is 'available' if there are no related request/active_loan and
         if the related circulation category doesn't specify a negative
         availability.
+        All masked items are considered as unavailable.
         """
+        if self.get('_masked', False):
+            return False
         if self.item_has_active_loan_or_request() > 0:
             return False
         if self.circulation_category.get('negative_availability'):
diff --git a/tests/api/test_availability.py b/tests/api/test_availability.py
index 98ecb5b116..3eb698c15e 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_availability.py
+++ b/tests/api/test_availability.py
@@ -287,6 +287,13 @@ def test_item_holding_document_availability(
     assert document_availability_status(
         client, document.pid, librarian_martigny.user)
 
+    # masked item isn't available
+    item['_masked'] = True
+    item = item.update(item, dbcommit=True, reindex=True)
+    assert not item.available
+    del item['_masked']
+    item.update(item, dbcommit=True, reindex=True)
+
     # test can not request item already checked out to patron
     res = client.get(
         url_for(