diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
index 616356a07..4915cddad 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -346,6 +346,14 @@ module ApplicationHelper
     end
   end
 
+  # Returns the default scope for the quick search form
+  # Could be 'all', 'my_projects', 'subprojects' or nil (current project)
+  def default_search_project_scope
+    if @project && !@project.leaf?
+      'subprojects'
+    end
+  end
+
   # Returns an array of projects that are displayed in the quick-jump box
   def projects_for_jump_box(user=User.current)
     if user.logged?
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/base.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/base.html.erb
index 126d86b41..4cdefbd47 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/base.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/base.html.erb
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@
     <% if User.current.logged? || !Setting.login_required? %>
     <div id="quick-search">
         <%= form_tag({:controller => 'search', :action => 'index', :id => @project}, :method => :get ) do %>
+        <%= hidden_field_tag 'scope', default_search_project_scope, :id => nil %>
         <%= hidden_field_tag(controller.default_search_scope, 1, :id => nil) if controller.default_search_scope %>
         <label for='q'>
           <%= link_to l(:label_search), {:controller => 'search', :action => 'index', :id => @project}, :accesskey => accesskey(:search) %>: