diff --git a/ui/src/components/LayoutShell.tsx b/ui/src/components/LayoutShell.tsx
index a503f673..d868ae86 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/LayoutShell.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/LayoutShell.tsx
@@ -533,17 +533,23 @@ function LayoutContent() {
 
   const handlePaletteSubmit = useCallback((query: string) => {
     if (isAdminPage) {
-      // Navigate to top result — CommandPalette calls onSelect for the top result
-      // when Enter is pressed, so this is only reached if there are no results.
-      // Navigate to RBAC page as fallback.
-      navigate('/admin/rbac');
+      // Find first matching admin result and navigate to it
+      const q = query.toLowerCase();
+      const match = adminSearchData.find(
+        (r) => r.title.toLowerCase().includes(q) || r.meta.toLowerCase().includes(q),
+      );
+      if (match) {
+        handlePaletteSelect(match);
+      } else {
+        navigate('/admin/rbac');
+      }
     } else {
       const baseParts = ['/exchanges'];
       if (scope.appId) baseParts.push(scope.appId);
       if (scope.routeId) baseParts.push(scope.routeId);
       navigate(`${baseParts.join('/')}?text=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`);
     }
-  }, [isAdminPage, navigate, scope.appId, scope.routeId]);
+  }, [isAdminPage, adminSearchData, handlePaletteSelect, navigate, scope.appId, scope.routeId]);
 
   const handleSidebarNavigate = useCallback((path: string) => {
     const state = { sidebarReveal: path };
@@ -658,6 +664,7 @@ function LayoutContent() {
         onLogout={handleLogout}
       />
       <CommandPalette
+        key={isAdminPage ? 'admin' : 'ops'}
         open={paletteOpen}
         onClose={() => setPaletteOpen(false)}
         onOpen={() => setPaletteOpen(true)}