diff --git a/packages/calypso-e2e/src/lib/pages/editor-page.ts b/packages/calypso-e2e/src/lib/pages/editor-page.ts
index 67150600804dac..7e628782494154 100644
--- a/packages/calypso-e2e/src/lib/pages/editor-page.ts
+++ b/packages/calypso-e2e/src/lib/pages/editor-page.ts
@@ -304,11 +304,14 @@ export class EditorPage {
 	 */
 	async addBlockFromSidebar(
 		blockName: string,
-		blockEditorSelector: string
+		blockEditorSelector: string,
+		{ noSearch }: { noSearch?: boolean } = {}
 	): Promise< ElementHandle > {
 		await this.editorGutenbergComponent.resetSelectedBlock();
 		await this.editorToolbarComponent.openBlockInserter();
-		await this.addBlockFromInserter( blockName, this.editorSidebarBlockInserterComponent );
+		await this.addBlockFromInserter( blockName, this.editorSidebarBlockInserterComponent, {
+			noSearch: noSearch,
+		} );
 
 		const blockHandle = await this.editorGutenbergComponent.getSelectedBlockElementHandle(
 			blockEditorSelector
@@ -377,9 +380,12 @@ export class EditorPage {
 	 */
 	private async addBlockFromInserter(
 		blockName: string,
-		inserter: BlockInserter
+		inserter: BlockInserter,
+		{ noSearch }: { noSearch?: boolean } = {}
 	): Promise< void > {
-		await inserter.searchBlockInserter( blockName );
+		if ( ! noSearch ) {
+			await inserter.searchBlockInserter( blockName );
+		}
 		await inserter.selectBlockInserterResult( blockName );
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/blocks/blocks__media.ts b/test/e2e/specs/blocks/blocks__media.ts
index b954a8a2303648..4ddde2a2116d38 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/blocks/blocks__media.ts
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/blocks/blocks__media.ts
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ describe( DataHelper.createSuiteTitle( 'Blocks: Media (Upload)' ), function () {
 		it( `${ ImageBlock.blockName } block: upload image file with reserved URL characters`, async function () {
 			const blockHandle = await editorPage.addBlockFromSidebar(
 				ImageBlock.blockName,
-				ImageBlock.blockEditorSelector
+				ImageBlock.blockEditorSelector,
+				{ noSearch: true }
 			);
 			const imageBlock = new ImageBlock( blockHandle );
 			await imageBlock.upload( testFiles.imageReservedName.fullpath );
@@ -72,7 +73,8 @@ describe( DataHelper.createSuiteTitle( 'Blocks: Media (Upload)' ), function () {
 		it( `${ ImageBlock.blockName } block: upload image file using Calypso media modal `, async function () {
 			const blockHandle = await editorPage.addBlockFromSidebar(
 				ImageBlock.blockName,
-				ImageBlock.blockEditorSelector
+				ImageBlock.blockEditorSelector,
+				{ noSearch: true }
 			);
 			const imageBlock = new ImageBlock( blockHandle );
 			await imageBlock.uploadThroughMediaLibrary( testFiles.image.fullpath );
@@ -81,7 +83,8 @@ describe( DataHelper.createSuiteTitle( 'Blocks: Media (Upload)' ), function () {
 		it( `${ AudioBlock.blockName } block: upload audio file`, async function () {
 			const blockHandle = await editorPage.addBlockFromSidebar(
 				AudioBlock.blockName,
-				AudioBlock.blockEditorSelector
+				AudioBlock.blockEditorSelector,
+				{ noSearch: true }
 			);
 			const audioBlock = new AudioBlock( blockHandle );
 			await audioBlock.upload( testFiles.audio.fullpath );
@@ -90,7 +93,8 @@ describe( DataHelper.createSuiteTitle( 'Blocks: Media (Upload)' ), function () {
 		it( `${ FileBlock.blockName } block: upload audio file`, async function () {
 			const blockHandle = await editorPage.addBlockFromSidebar(
 				FileBlock.blockName,
-				FileBlock.blockEditorSelector
+				FileBlock.blockEditorSelector,
+				{ noSearch: true }
 			);
 			const fileBlock = new FileBlock( blockHandle );
 			await fileBlock.upload( testFiles.audio.fullpath );
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/editor__post-advanced-flow.ts b/test/e2e/specs/editor/editor__post-advanced-flow.ts
index 319269a1a04cd5..46290bacc3f337 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/editor__post-advanced-flow.ts
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/editor__post-advanced-flow.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ describe( DataHelper.createSuiteTitle( `Editor: Advanced Post Flow` ), function
 		it( 'Enter post content', async function () {
 			const blockHandle = await editorPage.addBlockFromSidebar(
 				ParagraphBlock.blockName,
-				ParagraphBlock.blockEditorSelector
+				ParagraphBlock.blockEditorSelector,
+				{ noSearch: true }
 			);
 			paragraphBlock = new ParagraphBlock( blockHandle );
 			await paragraphBlock.enterParagraph( originalContent );
@@ -97,7 +98,8 @@ describe( DataHelper.createSuiteTitle( `Editor: Advanced Post Flow` ), function
 		it( 'Append additional content', async function () {
 			const blockHandle = await editorPage.addBlockFromSidebar(
 				ParagraphBlock.blockName,
-				ParagraphBlock.blockEditorSelector
+				ParagraphBlock.blockEditorSelector,
+				{ noSearch: true }
 			);
 			paragraphBlock = new ParagraphBlock( blockHandle );
 			await paragraphBlock.enterParagraph( additionalContent );