diff --git a/synapse/config/user_directory.py b/synapse/config/user_directory.py
index 093ebc4d0..9b0ae9128 100644
--- a/synapse/config/user_directory.py
+++ b/synapse/config/user_directory.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class UserDirectoryConfig(Config):
         #   search_all_users: false
         #
         #   If this is set, user search will be delegated to this ID server instead
-        #   of synapse performing the saerch itself.
+        #   of synapse performing the search itself.
+        #   This is an experimental API.
         #   defer_to_id_server: id.example.com
         """
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/user_directory.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/user_directory.py
index fd3638914..9b1a01997 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/user_directory.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/user_directory.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class UserDirectorySearchRestServlet(RestServlet):
 
         if self.hs.config.user_directory_defer_to_id_server:
             signed_body = sign_json(body, self.hs.hostname, self.hs.config.signing_key[0])
-            url = "https://%s/_matrix/identity/api/v1/user_directory/search" % (
+            url = "http://%s/_matrix/identity/api/v1/user_directory/search" % (
                 self.hs.config.user_directory_defer_to_id_server,
             )
             resp = yield self.http_client.post_json_get_json(url, signed_body)