diff --git a/cvat-ui/src/components/task-page/user-selector.tsx b/cvat-ui/src/components/task-page/user-selector.tsx
index 4f54e023..39ee2110 100644
--- a/cvat-ui/src/components/task-page/user-selector.tsx
+++ b/cvat-ui/src/components/task-page/user-selector.tsx
@@ -61,18 +61,29 @@ export default function UserSelector(props: Props): JSX.Element {
         setUsers(initialUsers);
     }, [initialUsers]);
 
-    const handleSearch = (searchValue: string): void => {
-        if (searchValue) {
-            searchUsers(searchValue, setUsers);
+    useEffect(() => {
+        if (searchPhrase) {
+            searchUsers(searchPhrase, setUsers);
         } else {
             setUsers(initialUsers);
         }
+    }, [searchPhrase]);
+
+    const handleSearch = (searchValue: string): void => {
         setSearchPhrase(searchValue);
     };
 
     const onBlur = (): void => {
         if (!searchPhrase && value) {
             onSelect(null);
+        } else if (searchPhrase) {
+            const potentialUsers = users.filter((_user) => _user.username.includes(searchPhrase));
+            if (potentialUsers.length === 1) {
+                setSearchPhrase(potentialUsers[0].username);
+                onSelect(potentialUsers[0]);
+            } else {
+                setSearchPhrase(value?.username || '');
+            }
         }
     };
 
diff --git a/tests/cypress/integration/actions_users/issue_2440_value_must_be_a_user_instance.js b/tests/cypress/integration/actions_users/issue_2440_value_must_be_a_user_instance.js
index 1fb53919..70b8c304 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/integration/actions_users/issue_2440_value_must_be_a_user_instance.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/integration/actions_users/issue_2440_value_must_be_a_user_instance.js
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ context('Value must be a user instance.', () => {
             // Before fix:
             // The following error originated from your application code, not from Cypress.
             // > Value must be a user instance
-            cy.get('.cvat-spinner').should('exist');
+            cy.get('.cvat-spinner', { timeout: 500 }).should('not.exist');
             // Remove the user's assignment for next tests.
             cy.get('.cvat-task-details-user-block').within(() => {
-                cy.get('[type="text"]').click().clear().type('{Enter}');
+                cy.get('[type="search"]').click().clear().type('{Enter}');
             });
         });
     });