1 files changed, 2 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/format.c b/format.c
index ddc5a7a5..7bf3a540 100644
--- a/format.c
+++ b/format.c
@@ -1415,8 +1415,8 @@ format_defaults_pane(struct format_tree *ft, struct window_pane *wp)
 
 	format_add(ft, "pane_synchronized", "%d",
 	    !!options_get_number(wp->window->options, "synchronize-panes"));
-	format_add(ft, "pane_search_string", "%s",
-	    window_copy_search_string(wp));
+	if (wp->searchstr != NULL)
+		format_add(ft, "pane_search_string", "%s", wp->searchstr);
 
 	format_add(ft, "pane_tty", "%s", wp->tty);
 	format_add(ft, "pane_pid", "%ld", (long) wp->pid);