diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/search.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/search.js
index eab09cc24a0..6241fe6da28 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/search.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/search.js
@@ -241,6 +241,8 @@ my.InputView = instance.web.Widget.extend({
         setTimeout(function () {
             // Read text content (ignore pasted HTML)
             var data = this.$el.text();
+            if (!data)
+                return; 
             // paste raw text back in
             this.$el.empty().text(data);
             this.el.normalize();