diff --git a/ee/lib/search/elastic/references/work_item.rb b/ee/lib/search/elastic/references/work_item.rb
index 2bf6964ed67f811714f9173cdb59da9858abbb7f..a2ea3641c407b43b8e664a0f2f9862cdd4f84d68 100644
--- a/ee/lib/search/elastic/references/work_item.rb
+++ b/ee/lib/search/elastic/references/work_item.rb
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def model_klass
         private
 
         def populate_notes(target, data)
-          notes_internal, notes = target.notes.partition(&:internal)
+          notes_internal, notes = target.notes.user.partition(&:internal)
 
           internal_notes = notes_internal.sort_by(&:created_at).reverse.map(&:note).join("\n").presence
           data['notes_internal'] = internal_notes.truncate_bytes(NOTES_MAXIMUM_BYTES) if internal_notes
diff --git a/ee/spec/lib/search/elastic/references/work_item_spec.rb b/ee/spec/lib/search/elastic/references/work_item_spec.rb
index 0541f60eebd09d7eab8bcf0eaced3df72931b40c..ebad7060f6b124ce6b97be1c8aa5af444114c623 100644
--- a/ee/spec/lib/search/elastic/references/work_item_spec.rb
+++ b/ee/spec/lib/search/elastic/references/work_item_spec.rb
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@
       let_it_be(:note1) { create(:note_on_issue, noteable: project_work_item, project: project, note: 'Some pig') }
       let_it_be(:note2) { create(:note_on_issue, noteable: project_work_item, project: project, note: 'Terrific') }
       let_it_be(:note3) { create(:note, :internal, noteable: project_work_item, project: project, note: "Radiant") }
-
       let(:expected_hash) do
         base_work_item_hash.merge(
           root_namespace_id: project_work_item.namespace.root_ancestor.id,
@@ -121,6 +120,12 @@
         expect(indexed_json[:notes_internal]).to eq("Newest\n…")
       end
 
+      it 'does not include system notes' do
+        create(:note, :system, noteable: project_work_item, project: project, note: "Enchanting!")
+
+        expect(indexed_json[:notes]).not_to include('Enchanting!')
+      end
+
       context 'when add_work_item_type_correct_id migration is not complete' do
         before do
           set_elasticsearch_migration_to :add_work_item_type_correct_id, including: false