diff --git a/extend.php b/extend.php
index 12eb1b1..0be083b 100644
--- a/extend.php
+++ b/extend.php
@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@
         ->default('fof-user-directory.disable-global-search-source', false)
         ->default('fof-user-directory.default-sort', 'default')
         ->default('fof-user-directory.link-group-mentions', true)
-        ->serializeToForum('userDirectorySmallCards', 'fof-user-directory.use-small-cards')
-        ->serializeToForum('userDirectoryDisableGlobalSearchSource', 'fof-user-directory.disable-global-search-source')
-        ->serializeToForum('userDirectoryDefaultSort', 'fof-user-directory.default-sort')
-        ->serializeToForum('userDirectoryLinkGroupMentions', 'fof-user-directory.link-group-mentions'),
+        ->serializeToForum('userDirectorySmallCards', 'fof-user-directory.use-small-cards', 'boolVal')
+        ->serializeToForum('userDirectoryDisableGlobalSearchSource', 'fof-user-directory.disable-global-search-source', 'boolVal')
+        ->serializeToForum('userDirectoryLinkGroupMentions', 'fof-user-directory.link-group-mentions', 'boolVal'),
 ];
diff --git a/src/Content/UserDirectory.php b/src/Content/UserDirectory.php
index fa9367a..6db09fa 100644
--- a/src/Content/UserDirectory.php
+++ b/src/Content/UserDirectory.php
@@ -31,7 +31,12 @@ class UserDirectory
     /**
      * @var Factory
      */
-    private $view;
+    protected $view;
+
+    /**
+     * @var SettingsRepositoryInterface
+     */
+    protected $settings;
 
     /**
      * A map of sort query param values to their API sort param.
@@ -47,10 +52,11 @@ class UserDirectory
         'least_discussions' => 'discussionCount',
     ];
 
-    public function __construct(Client $api, Factory $view)
+    public function __construct(Client $api, Factory $view, SettingsRepositoryInterface $settings)
     {
         $this->api = $api;
         $this->view = $view;
+        $this->settings = $settings;
     }
 
     private function getDocument(User $actor, array $params, Request $request)
@@ -68,7 +74,7 @@ public function __invoke(Document $document, Request $request): Document
         $queryParams = $request->getQueryParams();
         $actor = RequestUtil::getActor($request);
 
-        $sort = Arr::pull($queryParams, 'sort') ?: resolve(SettingsRepositoryInterface::class)->get('fof-user-directory.default-sort');
+        $sort = Arr::pull($queryParams, 'sort') ?: $this->settings->get('fof-user-directory.default-sort');
         $q = Arr::pull($queryParams, 'q');
         $page = Arr::pull($queryParams, 'page', 1);
 
diff --git a/src/PermissionBasedForumSettings.php b/src/PermissionBasedForumSettings.php
index 77691b6..6e85f67 100644
--- a/src/PermissionBasedForumSettings.php
+++ b/src/PermissionBasedForumSettings.php
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ public function __invoke(ForumSerializer $serializer, $model, array $attributes)
     {
         // The link is visible if the user can access the user directory AND the link was enabled in extension settings
         $attributes['canSeeUserDirectoryLink'] = $serializer->getActor()->can('seeUserList') && $this->settings->get('fof-user-directory-link');
+        $attributes['userDirectoryDefaultSort'] = $this->settings->get('fof-user-directory.default-sort') ?: 'default';
 
         // Only serialize if the actor has permission
         if ($permission = $serializer->getActor()->hasPermission('user.suspend')) {
diff --git a/tests/integration/api/ForumAttributeTest.php b/tests/integration/api/ForumAttributeTest.php
index 4772106..1a550dc 100644
--- a/tests/integration/api/ForumAttributeTest.php
+++ b/tests/integration/api/ForumAttributeTest.php
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ protected function guestUserDirectoryPermission()
                     'permission' => 'fof.user-directory.view',
                     'group_id'   => 2,
                 ],
+                [
+                    'permission' => 'searchUsers',
+                    'group_id'   => 2,
+                ]
             ],
         ]);
     }