This study investigated whether visual short-term memory (VSTM) load modulates rapid distractor rejection during inefficient serial visual search. Previous research has produced conflicting findings regarding the role of working memory in attentional control, with load theory predicting increased distractor interference under high load, while alternative accounts suggest that increased VSTM demands may reduce distractor processing. Importantly, most prior work has focused on parallel search paradigms, leaving its role in serial search largely unexplored. To address this gap, a dual-task paradigm was employed combining a color-based VSTM task with a serial visual search task adapted from the Liesefeld paradigm designed to assess rapid distractor rejection. VSTM load was manipulated via informational complexity while keeping set size constant. Rapid distractor rejection was assessed using baseline-corrected reaction times as a function of distractor position relative to the target.  Results confirmed that the paradigm successfully induced serial search and replicated the characteristic distractor-related speed-up when distractors appeared before the target. However, VSTM load did not significantly affect distractor processing, with no main effects or interaction observed. These findings provide no evidence that VSTM load modulates rapid distractor rejection in serial search. The absence of load effects may reflect limited statistical power or insufficient strength of the manipulation. Overall, the results highlight the complexity of interactions between memory and attention and suggest that further research is needed to clarify how VSTM load influences distractor processing.