diff --git a/searx/static/themes/simple/src/js/main/searx_search.js b/searx/static/themes/simple/src/js/main/searx_search.js
index 235262b37..c593ba6a3 100644
--- a/searx/static/themes/simple/src/js/main/searx_search.js
+++ b/searx/static/themes/simple/src/js/main/searx_search.js
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
     }
 
     // vanilla js version of search_on_category_select.js
-    if (qinput !== null && searx.search_on_category_select) {
+    if (qinput !== null && d.querySelector('.help') != null && searx.search_on_category_select) {
       d.querySelector('.help').className='invisible';
 
       searx.on('#categories input', 'change', function() {