diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/main/search_bar.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/main/search_bar.tsx
index e2aee8b227587..4de5eafa42155 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/main/search_bar.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/main/search_bar.tsx
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ export class CodeSearchBar extends React.Component<Props> {
           appName="code"
           disableAutoFocus={true}
           suggestionProviders={this.suggestionProviders}
+          enableSubmitWhenOptionsChanged={false}
           onSearchScopeChanged={this.props.onSearchScopeChanged}
           ref={instance => {
             if (instance) {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/query_bar/components/query_bar.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/query_bar/components/query_bar.tsx
index 922b6fac4bee8..a3698d0c75111 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/query_bar/components/query_bar.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/query_bar/components/query_bar.tsx
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ interface Props {
   suggestionProviders: SuggestionsProvider[];
   repositorySearch: (p: { query: string }) => void;
   saveSearchOptions: (searchOptions: ISearchOptions) => void;
+  enableSubmitWhenOptionsChanged: boolean;
   onSearchScopeChanged: (s: SearchScope) => void;
   repoSearchResults: any[];
   searchLoading: boolean;
@@ -373,6 +374,15 @@ export class CodeQueryBar extends Component<Props, State> {
     if (prevProps.query !== this.props.query) {
       this.updateSuggestions();
     }
+
+    // When search options (e.g. repository scopes) change,
+    // submit the search query again to refresh the search result.
+    if (
+      this.props.enableSubmitWhenOptionsChanged &&
+      !_.isEqual(prevProps.searchOptions, this.props.searchOptions)
+    ) {
+      this.onSubmit();
+    }
   }
 
   public componentWillUnmount() {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/search_page/search_bar.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/search_page/search_bar.tsx
index 5348a36d2204f..bc3c8d1c477d4 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/search_page/search_bar.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/components/search_page/search_bar.tsx
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ export class SearchBar extends React.PureComponent<Props> {
           appName="code"
           suggestionProviders={suggestionProviders}
           onSearchScopeChanged={this.props.onSearchScopeChanged}
+          enableSubmitWhenOptionsChanged={true}
           ref={instance => {
             if (instance) {
               // @ts-ignore