diff --git a/evennia/contrib/rpg/rpsystem/rpsystem.py b/evennia/contrib/rpg/rpsystem/rpsystem.py
index 7cb9de81ab..7c8549b58e 100644
--- a/evennia/contrib/rpg/rpsystem/rpsystem.py
+++ b/evennia/contrib/rpg/rpsystem/rpsystem.py
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ def parse_sdescs_and_recogs(
         # if no sdesc, include key plus aliases instead
         else:
             candidate_map.append((obj, obj.key))
-        candidate_map.extend([(obj, alias) for alias in obj.aliases.all()])
+            candidate_map.extend([(obj, alias) for alias in obj.aliases.all()])
 
     # escape mapping syntax on the form {#id} if it exists already in emote,
     # if so it is replaced with just "id".
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ def parse_sdescs_and_recogs(
                 (re.search(rquery, text, _RE_FLAGS), obj, text) for obj, text in candidate_map
             )
             # filter out any non-matching candidates
-            bestmatches = [(obj, match.group()) for match, obj, text in matches if match]
+            bestmatches = [(obj, m.group()) for m, obj, text in matches if m]
 
         else:
             # to find the longest match, we start from the marker and lengthen the
@@ -1333,30 +1333,28 @@ class ContribRPObject(DefaultObject):
         """
         # we also want to use the default search method
         search_obj = super().get_search_result
-        is_builder = self.locks.check_lockstring(self, "perm(Builder)")
+        is_builder = self.permissions.check("Builder")
+        results = []
 
-        if candidates:
-            candidates = parse_sdescs_and_recogs(
+        if candidates is not None:
+            searched_results = parse_sdescs_and_recogs(
                 self, candidates, _PREFIX + searchdata, search_mode=True
             )
-            results = []
-            for candidate in candidates:
-                # we search by candidate keys here; this allows full error
-                # management and use of all kwargs - we will use searchdata
-                # in eventual error reporting later (not their keys). Doing
-                # it like this e.g. allows for use of the typeclass kwarg
-                # limiter.
-                results.extend(
-                    [obj for obj in search_obj(candidate.key, **kwargs) if obj not in results]
-                )
-
-            if not results and is_builder:
-                # builders get to do a global search by key+alias
-                results = search_obj(searchdata, **kwargs)
+            if not searched_results and is_builder:
+                # builders get to do a search by key
+                results = search_obj(searchdata, candidates=candidates, **kwargs)
+            else:
+                # we do a default search on each result by key, here, to apply extra filtering kwargs
+                for searched_obj in searched_results:
+                    results.extend(
+                        [
+                            obj
+                            for obj in search_obj(searched_obj.key, candidates=candidates, **kwargs)
+                            if obj not in results
+                        ]
+                    )
         else:
-            # global searches with #drefs end up here. Global searches are
-            # only done in code, so is controlled, #dbrefs are turned off
-            # for non-Builders.
+            # no candidates means it's a global search, so we pass it back to the default
             results = search_obj(searchdata, **kwargs)
         return results
 
diff --git a/evennia/contrib/rpg/rpsystem/tests.py b/evennia/contrib/rpg/rpsystem/tests.py
index df40eb367b..abef83a4ce 100644
--- a/evennia/contrib/rpg/rpsystem/tests.py
+++ b/evennia/contrib/rpg/rpsystem/tests.py
@@ -346,6 +346,34 @@ class TestRPSystem(BaseEvenniaTest):
         self.assertEqual(self.speaker.search("receiver of emotes"), self.receiver1)
         self.assertEqual(self.speaker.search("colliding"), self.receiver2)
 
+    def test_get_search_result(self):
+        self.obj1 = create_object(rpsystem.ContribRPObject, key="Obj1", location=self.room)
+        self.obj1.sdesc.add("something")
+        self.obj2 = create_object(rpsystem.ContribRPCharacter, key="Obj2", location=self.room)
+        self.obj2.sdesc.add("something")
+        candidates = [self.obj1, self.obj2]
+        # search candidates by sdesc: both objects should be found
+        result = self.speaker.get_search_result("something", candidates)
+        self.assertIn(self.obj1, result)
+        self.assertIn(self.obj2, result)
+        # search empty candidates: no objects should be found
+        result = self.speaker.get_search_result("something", candidates=[])
+        self.assertNotIn(self.obj1, result)
+        self.assertNotIn(self.obj2, result)
+        # typeclass was given: only matching object should be found
+        result = self.speaker.get_search_result(
+            "something", candidates=candidates, typeclass=rpsystem.ContribRPCharacter
+        )
+        self.assertNotIn(self.obj1, result)
+        self.assertIn(self.obj2, result)
+        # search by key with player permissions: no objects should be found
+        result = self.speaker.get_search_result("obj1", candidates)
+        self.assertNotIn(self.obj1, result)
+        # search by key with builder permissions: object should be found
+        self.speaker.permissions.add("builder")
+        result = self.speaker.get_search_result("obj1", candidates)
+        self.assertIn(self.obj1, result)
+
 
 class TestRPSystemCommands(BaseEvenniaCommandTest):
     def setUp(self):