diff --git a/back/internal/api/handler/search.go b/back/internal/api/handler/search.go
index dfd2285..d9c1083 100644
--- a/back/internal/api/handler/search.go
+++ b/back/internal/api/handler/search.go
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@ func (h *SearchHandler) Get(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 // DELETE /searches/{id}
 func (h *SearchHandler) Delete(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if h.demo {
+		respond.Error(w, http.StatusForbidden, "demo mode: deletions are disabled")
+		return
+	}
 	id := chi.URLParam(r, "id")
 	if err := h.manager.Delete(id); err != nil {
 		respond.Error(w, http.StatusNotFound, err.Error())