diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-frontend-a11y.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-frontend-a11y.yml
index 8930c324f4..dab69f8a30 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-frontend-a11y.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-frontend-a11y.yml
@@ -42,6 +42,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Start server and log output
         run: npm run start &
 
+      - name: Start API Server for search results
+        run: |
+          cd ../api
+          make init db-seed-local start &
+          cd ../frontend
+          # ensure the API wait script is executable
+          chmod +x ../api/bin/wait-for-api.sh
+          ../api/bin/wait-for-api.sh
+        shell: bash
+
       - name: Wait for frontend to be ready
         run: |
           # Ensure the server wait script is executable
diff --git a/frontend/.pa11yci-desktop.json b/frontend/.pa11yci-desktop.json
index 2f477b7bc6..5f38da73a3 100644
--- a/frontend/.pa11yci-desktop.json
+++ b/frontend/.pa11yci-desktop.json
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
       "ignoreHTTPSErrors": true,
       "args": ["--disable-dev-shm-usage", "--no-sandbox"]
     },
+    "headers": {
+      "Cookie": "_ff={%22showSearchV0%22:true}"
+    },
     "actions": [
       "wait for element #main-content to be visible",
       "screen capture screenshots-output/desktop-main-view.png"
diff --git a/frontend/.pa11yci-mobile.json b/frontend/.pa11yci-mobile.json
index 36e8032fa4..b0dcbd2f95 100644
--- a/frontend/.pa11yci-mobile.json
+++ b/frontend/.pa11yci-mobile.json
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
       "ignoreHTTPSErrors": true,
       "args": ["--disable-dev-shm-usage", "--no-sandbox"]
     },
+    "headers": {
+      "Cookie": "_ff={%22showSearchV0%22:true}"
+    },
     "viewport": {
       "width": 390,
       "height": 844,