diff --git a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/DropdownToolbar.java b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/DropdownToolbar.java
index 03c9f87fe1..7c456039b3 100644
--- a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/DropdownToolbar.java
+++ b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/DropdownToolbar.java
@@ -189,10 +189,10 @@ class DropdownToolbar extends javax.swing.JPanel {
                                      * schema version and selectively enable the ad
                                      * hoc search UI components.
                                      */
-                                    boolean schemaIsCurrent = IndexFinder.getCurrentSchemaVersion().equals(indexInfo.getSchemaVersion());
-                                    listsButton.setEnabled(schemaIsCurrent);
+                                    boolean schemaIsCompatible = indexInfo.isCompatible(IndexFinder.getCurrentSchemaVersion());
+                                    listsButton.setEnabled(schemaIsCompatible);
                                     searchDropButton.setEnabled(true);
-                                    dropPanel.setRegexSearchEnabled(schemaIsCurrent);
+                                    dropPanel.setRegexSearchEnabled(schemaIsCompatible);
                                     active = true;
                                 } else {
                                     /*
diff --git a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Index.java b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Index.java
index d93466f2ab..20c62ccab2 100644
--- a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Index.java
+++ b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Index.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ package org.sleuthkit.autopsy.keywordsearch;
 
 import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
 import java.util.Date;
+import org.apache.commons.lang.math.NumberUtils;
 import org.sleuthkit.autopsy.coreutils.UNCPathUtilities;
 
 /**
@@ -133,4 +134,20 @@ final class Index {
     String getIndexName() {
         return indexName;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Is the current Index instance compatible with the given version number
+     *
+     * @param version The version number to compare the current Index against
+     *
+     * @return true if the current major version number is equal to the given
+     *         major version number, otherwise false
+     */
+    boolean isCompatible(String version) {
+        // Versions are compatible if they have the same major version no
+        int currentMajorVersion = NumberUtils.toInt(schemaVersion.substring(0, schemaVersion.indexOf('.')));
+        int givenMajorVersion = NumberUtils.toInt(version.substring(0, version.indexOf('.')));
+
+        return currentMajorVersion == givenMajorVersion;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/KeywordSearchIngestModule.java b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/KeywordSearchIngestModule.java
index 3c6b641eab..8b9a71b207 100644
--- a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/KeywordSearchIngestModule.java
+++ b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/KeywordSearchIngestModule.java
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ public final class KeywordSearchIngestModule implements FileIngestModule {
             if (!IndexFinder.getCurrentSolrVersion().equals(indexInfo.getSolrVersion())) {
                 throw new IngestModuleException(Bundle.KeywordSearchIngestModule_startupException_indexSolrVersionNotSupported(indexInfo.getSolrVersion()));
             }
-            if (!IndexFinder.getCurrentSchemaVersion().equals(indexInfo.getSchemaVersion())) {
+            if (!indexInfo.isCompatible(IndexFinder.getCurrentSchemaVersion())) {
                 throw new IngestModuleException(Bundle.KeywordSearchIngestModule_startupException_indexSchemaNotSupported(indexInfo.getSchemaVersion()));
             }
         } catch (NoOpenCoreException ex) {
diff --git a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/SolrSearchService.java b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/SolrSearchService.java
index fe7009128d..1313b9a3ef 100644
--- a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/SolrSearchService.java
+++ b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/SolrSearchService.java
@@ -325,8 +325,8 @@ public class SolrSearchService implements KeywordSearchService, AutopsyService {
                 double currentSolrVersion = NumberUtils.toDouble(IndexFinder.getCurrentSolrVersion());
                 double indexSolrVersion = NumberUtils.toDouble(indexToUse.getSolrVersion());
                 if (indexSolrVersion == currentSolrVersion) {
-                    // latest Solr version but not latest schema. index should be used in read-only mode
-                    if (RuntimeProperties.runningWithGUI()) {
+                    // latest Solr version but schema not compatible. index should be used in read-only mode
+                    if (!indexToUse.isCompatible(IndexFinder.getCurrentSchemaVersion()) && RuntimeProperties.runningWithGUI()) {
                         // pop up a message box to indicate the read-only restrictions.
                         JOptionPane optionPane = new JOptionPane(
                                 NbBundle.getMessage(this.getClass(), "SolrSearchService.IndexReadOnlyDialog.msg"),