diff --git a/src/ui/public/directives/saved_object_finder.js b/src/ui/public/directives/saved_object_finder.js
index 998a7a3be0611..72d9a9b797c51 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/directives/saved_object_finder.js
+++ b/src/ui/public/directives/saved_object_finder.js
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ module.directive('savedObjectFinder', function ($location, $injector, kbnUrl, Pr
         self.service.find(filter)
           .then(function (hits) {
 
-            hits.hits = hits.hits.filter((hit) => (isLabsEnabled || hit.type.stage !== 'lab'));
+            hits.hits = hits.hits.filter((hit) => (isLabsEnabled || _.get(hit, 'type.stage') !== 'lab'));
             hits.total = hits.hits.length;
 
             // ensure that we don't display old results
diff --git a/test/functional/apps/visualize/_lab_mode.js b/test/functional/apps/visualize/_lab_mode.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e7afa7a7d3589
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/functional/apps/visualize/_lab_mode.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import expect from 'expect.js';
+
+export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }) {
+  const log = getService('log');
+  const PageObjects = getPageObjects(['common', 'header', 'discover', 'settings']);
+
+  describe('visualize lab mode', () => {
+
+    it('disabling does not break loading saved searches', async () => {
+      await PageObjects.common.navigateToUrl('discover', '');
+      await PageObjects.discover.saveSearch('visualize_lab_mode_test');
+      const hasSaved = await PageObjects.discover.hasSavedSearch('visualize_lab_mode_test');
+      expect(hasSaved).to.be(true);
+
+      log.info('found saved search before toggling enableLabs mode');
+
+      // Navigate to advanced setting and disable lab mode
+      await PageObjects.header.clickManagement();
+      await PageObjects.settings.clickKibanaSettings();
+      await PageObjects.settings.toggleAdvancedSettingCheckbox('visualize:enableLabs');
+
+      // Expect the discover still to list that saved visualization in the open list
+      await PageObjects.header.clickDiscover();
+      const stillHasSaved = await PageObjects.discover.hasSavedSearch('visualize_lab_mode_test');
+      expect(stillHasSaved).to.be(true);
+      log.info('found saved search after toggling enableLabs mode');
+    });
+
+    after(async () => {
+      await PageObjects.header.clickManagement();
+      await PageObjects.settings.clickKibanaSettings();
+      await PageObjects.settings.clearAdvancedSettings('visualize:enableLabs');
+    });
+
+  });
+}
diff --git a/test/functional/apps/visualize/index.js b/test/functional/apps/visualize/index.js
index d5d3f29f18d7b..758b1c41bf702 100644
--- a/test/functional/apps/visualize/index.js
+++ b/test/functional/apps/visualize/index.js
@@ -33,5 +33,6 @@ export default function ({ getService, loadTestFile }) {
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./_input_control_vis'));
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./_histogram_request_start'));
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./_vega_chart'));
+    loadTestFile(require.resolve('./_lab_mode'));
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/functional/page_objects/discover_page.js b/test/functional/page_objects/discover_page.js
index 452479a550f82..c704664ec4a52 100644
--- a/test/functional/page_objects/discover_page.js
+++ b/test/functional/page_objects/discover_page.js
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ export function DiscoverPageProvider({ getService, getPageObjects }) {
       return await Promise.all(headerElements.map(el => el.getVisibleText()));
     }
 
+    async hasSavedSearch(searchName) {
+      await this.clickLoadSavedSearchButton();
+      await PageObjects.header.waitUntilLoadingHasFinished();
+      const searchLink = await find.byPartialLinkText(searchName);
+      return searchLink.isDisplayed();
+    }
+
     async loadSavedSearch(searchName) {
       await this.clickLoadSavedSearchButton();
       const searchLink = await find.byPartialLinkText(searchName);
diff --git a/test/functional/page_objects/header_page.js b/test/functional/page_objects/header_page.js
index edce1bb8435dd..1d8dc25211872 100644
--- a/test/functional/page_objects/header_page.js
+++ b/test/functional/page_objects/header_page.js
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ export function HeaderPageProvider({ getService, getPageObjects }) {
       await this.isGlobalLoadingIndicatorHidden();
     }
 
+    async clickManagement() {
+      log.debug('click Management tab');
+      await this.clickSelector('a[href*=\'management\']');
+      await this.isGlobalLoadingIndicatorHidden();
+    }
+
     async clickSettings() {
       log.debug('click Settings tab');
       await this.clickSelector('a[href*=\'settings\']');