diff --git a/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectLocator.js b/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectLocator.js
index 2feaa0cebf..32d7d2bc00 100644
--- a/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectLocator.js
+++ b/services/web/app/src/Features/Project/ProjectLocator.js
@@ -95,7 +95,10 @@ function findElement(options, _callback) {
   const path = { fileSystem: '', mongo: 'rootFolder.0' }
 
   const startSearch = project => {
-    if (elementId + '' === project.rootFolder[0]._id + '') {
+    if (
+      elementId + '' === project.rootFolder[0]._id + '' &&
+      elementType === 'folders'
+    ) {
       callback(null, project.rootFolder[0], path, null)
     } else {
       search(project.rootFolder[0], path)
diff --git a/services/web/test/unit/src/Project/ProjectLocatorTests.js b/services/web/test/unit/src/Project/ProjectLocatorTests.js
index 14de550401..6cea98a024 100644
--- a/services/web/test/unit/src/Project/ProjectLocatorTests.js
+++ b/services/web/test/unit/src/Project/ProjectLocatorTests.js
@@ -112,6 +112,30 @@ describe('ProjectLocator', function () {
       foundElement._id.should.equal(rootFolder._id)
     })
 
+    it('should not return root folder when searching for docs', async function () {
+      await expect(
+        this.locator.promises.findElement({
+          project_id: project._id,
+          element_id: rootFolder._id,
+          type: 'docs',
+        })
+      )
+        .to.eventually.be.rejectedWith(Errors.NotFoundError)
+        .and.eventually.have.property('message', 'entity not found')
+    })
+
+    it('should not return root folder when searching for files', async function () {
+      await expect(
+        this.locator.promises.findElement({
+          project_id: project._id,
+          element_id: rootFolder._id,
+          type: 'files',
+        })
+      )
+        .to.eventually.be.rejectedWith(Errors.NotFoundError)
+        .and.eventually.have.property('message', 'entity not found')
+    })
+
     it('when at root', async function () {
       const {
         element: foundElement,