diff --git a/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.ts b/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.ts
index eed93ae201..307dcecaaf 100644
--- a/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.ts
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ export class SearchConfigurationService implements OnDestroy {
    */
   getCurrentQuery(defaultQuery: string) {
     return this.routeService.getQueryParameterValue('query').pipe(map((query) => {
-      return query || defaultQuery;
+      return query !== null ? query : defaultQuery; // Allow querying when the value is empty
     }));
   }