Deep (R < 2 3) CCD images around 27 faint ([ MB ] approximately -24) radio-quiet QSOs in the redshift range 0.9 < z < 1.5 have been analysed to search for associations between QSOs and faint galaxies. No significant excess of galaxies is found around the QSOs, in marked contrast to previous studies of optically luminous, radio-loud QSOs. This result may reflect real differences between the environments of radio-loud and radio-quiet QSOs at intermediate redshifts. However, optical luminosity effects and the differential effect of gravitational lensing may also play an important role in the observed differences in the cluster environment between these two classes of QSO.