diff --git a/app/controllers/users/sidebars_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users/sidebars_controller.rb
index 55f910ea2..eb4fe88b0 100644
--- a/app/controllers/users/sidebars_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users/sidebars_controller.rb
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def extract_direct_memberships(all_memberships)
 
     def find_direct_placeholder_users
       exclude_user_ids = user_ids_already_in_direct_rooms_with_current_user.including(Current.user.id)
-      User.active.where.not(id: exclude_user_ids).order(:created_at).limit(DIRECT_PLACEHOLDERS - exclude_user_ids.count)
+      User.active.where.not(id: exclude_user_ids).order(:created_at).limit([DIRECT_PLACEHOLDERS - exclude_user_ids.count, 0].max)
     end
 
     def user_ids_already_in_direct_rooms_with_current_user