diff --git a/search.lua b/search.lua
index a850eaefec652204867acc50237a0ebd55a17dfd..b1d73bd49e8c750c55139efa0dfa81f5ed710956 100644
--- a/search.lua
+++ b/search.lua
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ local function show_formspec(playername, data)
 		-- save description
 		item.description = description
 
-		list = list .. "," .. color .. "," .. distance .. "," .. owner .. "," .. coords .. "," .. description
+		list = list .. "," .. color .. "," .. distance .. "," .. (owner or "?") .. "," .. coords .. "," .. description
 
 	end