diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7fcc108d..e0a3c298 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ and this project adheres to
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- 🐛(backend) find deleted root items when searching the trashbin
 - 🐛(backend) exclude folders from file type search results
 - 🐛(frontend) keep uploaded items usable while malware analysis runs
 - 🐛(backend) stream export files from S3 without buffering
diff --git a/src/backend/core/api/viewsets.py b/src/backend/core/api/viewsets.py
index cfc9888a..d5945f49 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/api/viewsets.py
+++ b/src/backend/core/api/viewsets.py
@@ -1356,11 +1356,14 @@ class ItemViewSet(
 
         workspace = filterset.form.cleaned_data.get("workspace")
 
-        # First look for all top level items user has access to
+        # First look for all top level items user has access to. Soft deleted items
+        # are kept: a deleted root item is its own access holder and would become
+        # unreachable, even from the trashbin. The scope filter excludes them from
+        # the results.
         user = request.user
         item_access_queryset = models.ItemAccess.objects.select_related("item").filter(
             db.Q(user=user) | db.Q(team__in=user.teams),
-            item__deleted_at__isnull=True,
+            item__hard_deleted_at__isnull=True,
         )
 
         # Remove items with upload_state SUSPICIOUS for non-creators
diff --git a/src/backend/core/tests/items/test_api_items_search.py b/src/backend/core/tests/items/test_api_items_search.py
index 8f9e5ab7..3595067d 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/tests/items/test_api_items_search.py
+++ b/src/backend/core/tests/items/test_api_items_search.py
@@ -825,3 +825,49 @@ def test_api_items_search_filter_category_excludes_folders():
 
     assert response.status_code == 200
     assert [item["id"] for item in response.json()["results"]] == [str(spreadsheet.id)]
+
+
+def test_api_items_search_trashbin_finds_deleted_root_item():
+    """A deleted root item should still be reachable from the trashbin location."""
+    user = factories.UserFactory()
+    client = APIClient()
+    client.force_login(user)
+
+    # A root item carries its own access: deleting it removes the only access
+    # pointing at it.
+    item = factories.ItemFactory(
+        title="ywh_export_report.pdf",
+        filename="ywh_export_report.pdf",
+        creator=user,
+        users=[(user, models.RoleChoices.OWNER)],
+        type=models.ItemTypeChoices.FILE,
+        update_upload_state=models.ItemUploadStateChoices.READY,
+    )
+    item.soft_delete()
+
+    response = client.get("/api/v1.0/items/search/?location=trashbin&title=ywh_export")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert [result["id"] for result in response.json()["results"]] == [str(item.id)]
+
+
+def test_api_items_search_excludes_deleted_root_item_by_default():
+    """A deleted root item should stay out of the search results without a scope."""
+    user = factories.UserFactory()
+    client = APIClient()
+    client.force_login(user)
+
+    item = factories.ItemFactory(
+        title="ywh_export_report.pdf",
+        filename="ywh_export_report.pdf",
+        creator=user,
+        users=[(user, models.RoleChoices.OWNER)],
+        type=models.ItemTypeChoices.FILE,
+        update_upload_state=models.ItemUploadStateChoices.READY,
+    )
+    item.soft_delete()
+
+    response = client.get("/api/v1.0/items/search/?title=ywh_export")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.json()["results"] == []