diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/app_search/components/app_search_gate/app_search_gate.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/app_search/components/app_search_gate/app_search_gate.tsx
index 155f06f508d3c..f071d0798c453 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/app_search/components/app_search_gate/app_search_gate.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/app_search/components/app_search_gate/app_search_gate.tsx
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ export const AppSearchGate: React.FC = () => {
           )}
         >
           <EuiSelect
-            hasNoInitialSelection
+            hasNoInitialSelection={participateInUXLabs === null}
             options={[
               {
                 text: i18n.translate(
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/workplace_search/views/overview/gated_form.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/workplace_search/views/overview/gated_form.tsx
index 9b37a219ada4f..2014803e5d075 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/workplace_search/views/overview/gated_form.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/workplace_search/views/overview/gated_form.tsx
@@ -649,7 +649,8 @@ export const WorkplaceSearchGate: React.FC = () => {
           )}
         >
           <EuiSelect
-            hasNoInitialSelection
+            data-test-subj="enterpriseSearchWorkplaceSearchGateSelect"
+            hasNoInitialSelection={participateInUXLabs === null}
             options={[
               {
                 text: i18n.translate(