diff --git a/components/com_search/controller.php b/components/com_search/controller.php
index 46785cfa06124..36a83bad03fd8 100644
--- a/components/com_search/controller.php
+++ b/components/com_search/controller.php
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ public function search()
 		$item = $menu->getItem($post['Itemid']);
 
 		// The requested Item is not a search page so we need to find one
-		if (!empty($item) && ($item->component != 'com_search' || $item->query['view'] != 'search'))
+		if ($item && ($item->component != 'com_search' || $item->query['view'] != 'search'))
 		{
 			// Get item based on component, not link. link is not reliable.
 			$item = $menu->getItems('component', 'com_search', true);