diff --git a/src/project/types/website/website-search.ts b/src/project/types/website/website-search.ts
index af16f5ba3c..89b21c6110 100644
--- a/src/project/types/website/website-search.ts
+++ b/src/project/types/website/website-search.ts
@@ -252,7 +252,13 @@ export async function updateSearchIndex(
       // link that points to this page / sidebar. If so, inject that level
       // into the crumbs as well. An attempt at improving #7803 and providing
       // better crumbs
-      if (crumbs && sidebar) {
+      // deno-lint-ignore no-explicit-any
+      const mergeNavBarSearchCrumbs = (outputFile.format.metadata as any)
+        ?.website?.search?.["merge-navbar-crumbs"];
+      if (
+        mergeNavBarSearchCrumbs !== false &&
+        crumbs && sidebar
+      ) {
         const navItem = navbarItemForSidebar(sidebar, outputFile.format);
         if (navItem) {
           if (typeof navItem === "object") {
diff --git a/src/resources/editor/tools/vs-code.mjs b/src/resources/editor/tools/vs-code.mjs
index e1b259a61c..3652d57fe1 100644
--- a/src/resources/editor/tools/vs-code.mjs
+++ b/src/resources/editor/tools/vs-code.mjs
@@ -9574,6 +9574,11 @@ var require_yaml_intelligence_resources = __commonJS({
                           schema: "boolean",
                           description: "Provide button for copying search link"
                         },
+                        "merge-navbar-crumbs": {
+                          schema: "boolean",
+                          default: true,
+                          description: "When false, do not merge navbar crumbs into the crumbs in `search.json`."
+                        },
                         "keyboard-shortcut": {
                           maybeArrayOf: {
                             string: {
@@ -22914,8 +22919,6 @@ var require_yaml_intelligence_resources = __commonJS({
         "If <code>true</code>, force the presence of the OJS runtime. If\n<code>false</code>, force the absence instead. If unset, the OJS runtime\nis included only if OJS cells are present in the document.",
         "Use the specified file as a style reference in producing a docx,\npptx, or odt file.",
         "Branding information to use for this document. If a string, the path\nto a brand file. If false, don\u2019t use branding on this document. If an\nobject, an inline brand definition, or an object with light and dark\nbrand paths or definitions.",
-        "The path to a light brand file or an inline light brand\ndefinition.",
-        "The path to a dark brand file or an inline dark brand definition.",
         "Theme name, theme scss file, or a mix of both.",
         "The light theme name, theme scss file, or a mix of both.",
         "The light theme name, theme scss file, or a mix of both.",
@@ -24248,12 +24251,12 @@ var require_yaml_intelligence_resources = __commonJS({
         mermaid: "%%"
       },
       "handlers/mermaid/schema.yml": {
-        _internalId: 196120,
+        _internalId: 194252,
         type: "object",
         description: "be an object",
         properties: {
           "mermaid-format": {
-            _internalId: 196112,
+            _internalId: 194244,
             type: "enum",
             enum: [
               "png",
@@ -24269,7 +24272,7 @@ var require_yaml_intelligence_resources = __commonJS({
             exhaustiveCompletions: true
           },
           theme: {
-            _internalId: 196119,
+            _internalId: 194251,
             type: "anyOf",
             anyOf: [
               {
diff --git a/src/resources/editor/tools/yaml/web-worker.js b/src/resources/editor/tools/yaml/web-worker.js
index d666a0a15d..8eb91e5048 100644
--- a/src/resources/editor/tools/yaml/web-worker.js
+++ b/src/resources/editor/tools/yaml/web-worker.js
@@ -9575,6 +9575,11 @@ try {
                             schema: "boolean",
                             description: "Provide button for copying search link"
                           },
+                          "merge-navbar-crumbs": {
+                            schema: "boolean",
+                            default: true,
+                            description: "When false, do not merge navbar crumbs into the crumbs in `search.json`."
+                          },
                           "keyboard-shortcut": {
                             maybeArrayOf: {
                               string: {
@@ -22915,8 +22920,6 @@ try {
           "If <code>true</code>, force the presence of the OJS runtime. If\n<code>false</code>, force the absence instead. If unset, the OJS runtime\nis included only if OJS cells are present in the document.",
           "Use the specified file as a style reference in producing a docx,\npptx, or odt file.",
           "Branding information to use for this document. If a string, the path\nto a brand file. If false, don\u2019t use branding on this document. If an\nobject, an inline brand definition, or an object with light and dark\nbrand paths or definitions.",
-          "The path to a light brand file or an inline light brand\ndefinition.",
-          "The path to a dark brand file or an inline dark brand definition.",
           "Theme name, theme scss file, or a mix of both.",
           "The light theme name, theme scss file, or a mix of both.",
           "The light theme name, theme scss file, or a mix of both.",
@@ -24249,12 +24252,12 @@ try {
           mermaid: "%%"
         },
         "handlers/mermaid/schema.yml": {
-          _internalId: 196120,
+          _internalId: 194252,
           type: "object",
           description: "be an object",
           properties: {
             "mermaid-format": {
-              _internalId: 196112,
+              _internalId: 194244,
               type: "enum",
               enum: [
                 "png",
@@ -24270,7 +24273,7 @@ try {
               exhaustiveCompletions: true
             },
             theme: {
-              _internalId: 196119,
+              _internalId: 194251,
               type: "anyOf",
               anyOf: [
                 {
diff --git a/src/resources/editor/tools/yaml/yaml-intelligence-resources.json b/src/resources/editor/tools/yaml/yaml-intelligence-resources.json
index 663646e453..9ef575dc13 100644
--- a/src/resources/editor/tools/yaml/yaml-intelligence-resources.json
+++ b/src/resources/editor/tools/yaml/yaml-intelligence-resources.json
@@ -2546,6 +2546,11 @@
                       "schema": "boolean",
                       "description": "Provide button for copying search link"
                     },
+                    "merge-navbar-crumbs": {
+                      "schema": "boolean",
+                      "default": true,
+                      "description": "When false, do not merge navbar crumbs into the crumbs in `search.json`."
+                    },
                     "keyboard-shortcut": {
                       "maybeArrayOf": {
                         "string": {
@@ -15886,8 +15891,6 @@
     "If <code>true</code>, force the presence of the OJS runtime. If\n<code>false</code>, force the absence instead. If unset, the OJS runtime\nis included only if OJS cells are present in the document.",
     "Use the specified file as a style reference in producing a docx,\npptx, or odt file.",
     "Branding information to use for this document. If a string, the path\nto a brand file. If false, don’t use branding on this document. If an\nobject, an inline brand definition, or an object with light and dark\nbrand paths or definitions.",
-    "The path to a light brand file or an inline light brand\ndefinition.",
-    "The path to a dark brand file or an inline dark brand definition.",
     "Theme name, theme scss file, or a mix of both.",
     "The light theme name, theme scss file, or a mix of both.",
     "The light theme name, theme scss file, or a mix of both.",
@@ -17220,12 +17223,12 @@
     "mermaid": "%%"
   },
   "handlers/mermaid/schema.yml": {
-    "_internalId": 196120,
+    "_internalId": 194252,
     "type": "object",
     "description": "be an object",
     "properties": {
       "mermaid-format": {
-        "_internalId": 196112,
+        "_internalId": 194244,
         "type": "enum",
         "enum": [
           "png",
@@ -17241,7 +17244,7 @@
         "exhaustiveCompletions": true
       },
       "theme": {
-        "_internalId": 196119,
+        "_internalId": 194251,
         "type": "anyOf",
         "anyOf": [
           {
diff --git a/src/resources/schema/definitions.yml b/src/resources/schema/definitions.yml
index 6fe40176b5..6aa7c64192 100644
--- a/src/resources/schema/definitions.yml
+++ b/src/resources/schema/definitions.yml
@@ -858,6 +858,10 @@
                 copy-button:
                   schema: boolean
                   description: "Provide button for copying search link"
+                merge-navbar-crumbs:
+                  schema: boolean
+                  default: true
+                  description: "When false, do not merge navbar crumbs into the crumbs in `search.json`."
                 keyboard-shortcut:
                   maybeArrayOf:
                     string:
diff --git a/src/resources/schema/json-schemas.json b/src/resources/schema/json-schemas.json
index 06040e4dca..f4370923cd 100644
--- a/src/resources/schema/json-schemas.json
+++ b/src/resources/schema/json-schemas.json
@@ -935,6 +935,9 @@
                     "copy-button": {
                       "type": "boolean"
                     },
+                    "merge-navbar-crumbs": {
+                      "type": "boolean"
+                    },
                     "keyboard-shortcut": {
                       "anyOf": [
                         {
diff --git a/src/resources/types/schema-types.ts b/src/resources/types/schema-types.ts
index 1d95382ed3..0b71fd5579 100644
--- a/src/resources/types/schema-types.ts
+++ b/src/resources/types/schema-types.ts
@@ -513,6 +513,7 @@ The user’s cookie preferences will automatically control Google Analytics (if
   search?: boolean | {
     "collapse-after"?: number;
     "copy-button"?: boolean;
+    "merge-navbar-crumbs"?: boolean;
     "keyboard-shortcut"?: MaybeArrayOf<
       string /* One or more keys that will act as a shortcut to launch search (single characters) */
     >;
diff --git a/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/.gitignore b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..075b2542af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/.quarto/
diff --git a/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/_quarto.yml b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/_quarto.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..39c708e6b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/_quarto.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+project:
+  type: website
+
+website:
+  title: "merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration"
+  navbar:
+    left:
+      - href: index.qmd
+        text: Home
+      - about.qmd
+  sidebar:
+    - contents:
+        - section: "Level 1"
+          contents:
+            - text: "Level 2"
+              href: index.qmd
+  search:
+    merge-navbar-crumbs: false
+format:
+  html:
+    theme:
+      - cosmo
+      - brand
+    css: styles.css
+    toc: true
diff --git a/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/about.qmd b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/about.qmd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..07c5e7f9d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/about.qmd
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: "About"
+---
+
+About this site
diff --git a/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/index.qmd b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/index.qmd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ecdca22127
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/index.qmd
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: "merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration"
+---
+
+This is a Quarto website.
+
+To learn more about Quarto websites visit <https://quarto.org/docs/websites>.
diff --git a/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/styles.css b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/styles.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ddf50c7b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration/styles.css
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/* css styles */
diff --git a/tests/smoke/project/project-website.test.ts b/tests/smoke/project/project-website.test.ts
index b850e4807e..9e6dceed70 100644
--- a/tests/smoke/project/project-website.test.ts
+++ b/tests/smoke/project/project-website.test.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
 /*
-* project-website.test.ts
-*
-* Copyright (C) 2020-2022 Posit Software, PBC
-*
-*/
+ * project-website.test.ts
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2020-2022 Posit Software, PBC
+ */
 import { existsSync } from "../../../src/deno_ral/fs.ts";
 import { join } from "../../../src/deno_ral/path.ts";
 
 import { Metadata } from "../../../src/config/types.ts";
 
-import { testQuartoCmd, Verify } from "../../test.ts";
+import { ExecuteOutput, testQuartoCmd, Verify } from "../../test.ts";
 import { docs } from "../../utils.ts";
 import {
   directoryEmptyButFor,
@@ -22,6 +21,7 @@ import {
   kProjectWorkingDir,
   kQuartoProjectFile,
 } from "./common.ts";
+import { assert } from "testing/asserts";
 
 // A website project
 testQuartoCmd(
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ testQuartoCmd(
     fileExists(join(kProjectWorkingDir, "index.qmd")),
     verifyYamlFile(
       kQuartoProjectFile,
-      ((yaml: unknown) => {
+      (yaml: unknown) => {
         // Make sure there is a project yaml section
         const metadata = yaml as Metadata;
         if (
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ testQuartoCmd(
         } else {
           return false;
         }
-      }),
+      },
     ),
   ],
   {
@@ -86,3 +86,39 @@ testQuartoCmd(
     },
   },
 );
+
+const mergeNavbarCrumbsConfigSite = docs(
+  "websites/search/merge-navbar-crumbs-configuration",
+);
+const mergeNavbarCrumbsConfigSiteOutDir = join(mergeNavbarCrumbsConfigSite, outDir);
+testQuartoCmd(
+  "render",
+  [mergeNavbarCrumbsConfigSite],
+  [
+    {
+      name: "verify-no-navbar-crumbs-in-searchjson",
+      verify: async (outputs: ExecuteOutput[]) => {
+        // Verify that the search.json file does not contain any navbar breadcrumbs
+        const searchJson = join(mergeNavbarCrumbsConfigSite, "_site", "search.json");
+        const searchJsonExists = existsSync(searchJson);
+        if (!searchJsonExists) {
+          throw new Error(`File ${searchJson} does not exist`);
+        }
+        const searchJsonContent = await Deno.readTextFile(searchJson);
+        const json = JSON.parse(searchJsonContent);
+        for (const entry of json) {
+          if (entry.crumbs) {
+            assert(entry.crumbs[0] !== "Home");
+          }
+        }
+      },
+    },
+  ],
+  {
+    teardown: async () => {
+      if (existsSync(mergeNavbarCrumbsConfigSiteOutDir)) {
+        await Deno.remove(mergeNavbarCrumbsConfigSiteOutDir, { recursive: true });
+      }
+    },
+  },
+);