diff --git a/C4/Search.pm b/C4/Search.pm
index b895993dab..f9b1454b16 100644
--- a/C4/Search.pm
+++ b/C4/Search.pm
@@ -2136,7 +2136,7 @@ sub searchResults {
                         || $item->{itemlost}
                         || $item->{damaged}
                         || $item->{notforloan}
-                        || $items_count > 20) {
+                        || $items_count > C4::Context->preference('MaxSearchResultsItemsPerRecordStatusCheck') ) {
 
                     # A couple heuristics to limit how many times
                     # we query the database for item transfer information, sacrificing
diff --git a/installer/data/mysql/atomicupdate/bug_13022.sql b/installer/data/mysql/atomicupdate/bug_13022.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..88d5a131a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/installer/data/mysql/atomicupdate/bug_13022.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+INSERT IGNORE INTO systempreferences (variable,value,explanation,options,type) VALUES('MaxSearchResultsItemsPerRecordStatusCheck','20','Max number of items per record for which to check transit and hold status','','Integer');
diff --git a/installer/data/mysql/sysprefs.sql b/installer/data/mysql/sysprefs.sql
index 484b3cda70..1d42c235e3 100644
--- a/installer/data/mysql/sysprefs.sql
+++ b/installer/data/mysql/sysprefs.sql
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ INSERT INTO systempreferences ( `variable`, `value`, `options`, `explanation`, `
 ('maxoutstanding','5','','maximum amount withstanding to be able make holds','Integer'),
 ('maxRecordsForFacets','20',NULL,NULL,'Integer'),
 ('maxreserves','50','','Define maximum number of holds a patron can place','Integer'),
+('MaxSearchResultsItemsPerRecordStatusCheck','20','','Max number of items per record for which to check transit and hold status','Integer'),
 ('MembershipExpiryDaysNotice',NULL,'Send an account expiration notice that a patron\'s card is about to expire after',NULL,'Integer'),
 ('MergeReportFields','',NULL,'Displayed fields for deleted MARC records after merge','Free'),
 ('minPasswordLength','3',NULL,'Specify the minimum length of a patron/staff password','free'),
diff --git a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/admin/preferences/searching.pref b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/admin/preferences/searching.pref
index 8b04d39b5c..a7c39bf710 100644
--- a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/admin/preferences/searching.pref
+++ b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/admin/preferences/searching.pref
@@ -148,6 +148,11 @@ Searching:
             - pref: numSearchResults
               class: integer
             - results per page in the staff client.
+        -
+            - For records with many items, only check the availability status for the first
+            - pref: MaxSearchResultsItemsPerRecordStatusCheck
+              class: integer
+            - items. If a record has more than this number of items, they availability statuses may be incorrect in the search results, but will be correct in the record details.
         -
             - By default, sort search results in the OPAC by
             - pref: OPACdefaultSortField