diff --git a/_assets/js/search.js b/_assets/js/search.js
index 04ba39a28..0ad80ea10 100644
--- a/_assets/js/search.js
+++ b/_assets/js/search.js
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@
     return text.replace(new RegExp('(\\b)(' + words.join('|') + ')(\\b)','ig'), '$1<strong>$2</strong>$3');
   };
 
-  window.initializeAutocomplete = function (autocompleteContainer, defaultValue) {
+  window.initializeAutocomplete = function (autocompleteContainer) {
     const previousInput = autocompleteContainer.querySelector('input');
     autocompleteContainer.innerHTML = '';
     let runningRequest = null;
@@ -160,7 +160,6 @@
       element: autocompleteContainer,
       id: 'search-box',
       name: 'query',
-      defaultValue: defaultValue,
       placeholder: previousInput.getAttribute('placeholder'),
       confirmOnBlur: false,
       onConfirm: (item) => {
diff --git a/search/index.html b/search/index.html
index f162e4e70..c070974cb 100644
--- a/search/index.html
+++ b/search/index.html
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ <h2 class="title">${highlight(result.title)}</h2>
 
     window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
       const autocompleteContainer = document.querySelector('.autocomplete_container');
-      window.initializeAutocomplete(autocompleteContainer, query);
+      window.initializeAutocomplete(autocompleteContainer);
 
       const highlightSearchTerms = !routedFrom;
       window.SearchService(query, highlightSearchTerms).then((response) => {