diff --git a/scripts/api/user.ts b/scripts/api/user.ts
index 1f2eff49ed..d512eda2a9 100644
--- a/scripts/api/user.ts
+++ b/scripts/api/user.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import ng from 'core/services/ng';
+import {IUser} from 'superdesk-api';
+import {OrderedMap} from 'immutable';
 
 function hasPrivilege(privilege: string): boolean {
     const privileges = ng.get('privileges');
@@ -18,8 +20,13 @@ function isLoggedIn() {
     return session?.identity?._id != null;
 }
 
+function getAll(): OrderedMap<IUser['_id'], IUser> {
+    return OrderedMap(ng.get('desks').users._items.map((user) => [user._id, user]));
+}
+
 export const user = {
     hasPrivilege,
     isLoggedIn,
     getCurrentUserId,
+    getAll,
 };
diff --git a/scripts/core/ui/components/SelectUser.tsx b/scripts/core/ui/components/SelectUser.tsx
index 31011ba37d..d76527ad07 100644
--- a/scripts/core/ui/components/SelectUser.tsx
+++ b/scripts/core/ui/components/SelectUser.tsx
@@ -117,9 +117,11 @@ export class SelectUser extends SuperdeskReactComponent<IPropsSelectUser, IState
                 inlineLabel={true}
                 labelHidden={true}
                 getItems={(searchString) => {
-                    const deskMembers = sdApi.desks.getDeskMembers(this.props.deskId);
+                    const users = this.props.deskId
+                        ? sdApi.desks.getDeskMembers(this.props.deskId)
+                        : sdApi.user.getAll().toArray();
 
-                    return Promise.resolve(searchUsers(deskMembers, searchString));
+                    return Promise.resolve(searchUsers(users, searchString));
                 }}
                 value={this.state.selectedUser}
                 onChange={(user) => {