diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jabref/preferences/SearchPreferences.java b/src/main/java/org/jabref/preferences/SearchPreferences.java
index ea902bfe13b..10273c0a892 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jabref/preferences/SearchPreferences.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jabref/preferences/SearchPreferences.java
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ public SearchPreferences(SearchDisplayMode searchDisplayMode, EnumSet<SearchFlag
     }
 
     public EnumSet<SearchFlags> getSearchFlags() {
+        // copy of returns an exception when the EnumSet is empty
+        if (searchFlags.isEmpty()) {
+            return EnumSet.noneOf(SearchFlags.class);
+        }
         return EnumSet.copyOf(searchFlags);
     }