diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py
index 909b14d5601..137b953eeb6 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ class res_users(osv.osv):
         if not context:
             context={}
         ids = []
-        if name:
+        if name and operator in ['=', 'ilike']:
             ids = self.search(cr, user, [('login','=',name)]+ args, limit=limit, context=context)
         if not ids:
             ids = self.search(cr, user, [('name',operator,name)]+ args, limit=limit, context=context)