diff --git a/ghost/core/core/server/api/endpoints/settings-public.js b/ghost/core/core/server/api/endpoints/settings-public.js
index 9c4d3c3b30..f337c040cb 100644
--- a/ghost/core/core/server/api/endpoints/settings-public.js
+++ b/ghost/core/core/server/api/endpoints/settings-public.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ const settingsCache = require('../../../shared/settings-cache');
 const urlUtils = require('../../../shared/url-utils');
 const ghostVersion = require('@tryghost/version');
 const announcementBarSettings = require('../../services/announcement-bar-service');
+const labs = require('../../../shared/labs');
 
 module.exports = {
     docName: 'settings',
@@ -9,7 +10,10 @@ module.exports = {
     browse: {
         permissions: true,
         query(frame) {
-            const announcementSettings = announcementBarSettings.getAnnouncementSettings(frame.options.context?.member);
+            let announcementSettings;
+            if (labs.isSet('announcementBar')) {
+                announcementSettings = announcementBarSettings.getAnnouncementSettings(frame.options.context?.member);
+            }
 
             // @TODO: decouple settings cache from API knowledge
             // The controller fetches models (or cached models) and the API frame for the target API version formats the response.