diff --git a/searx/external_bang.py b/searx/external_bang.py
index f8e872693..ec5a46ed0 100644
--- a/searx/external_bang.py
+++ b/searx/external_bang.py
@@ -77,11 +77,14 @@ def get_bang_url(search_query, external_bangs_db=None):
     :param search_query: This is a search_query object which contains preferences and the submitted queries.
     :return: None if the bang was invalid, else a string of the redirect url.
     """
+    ret_val = None
+
     if external_bangs_db is None:
         external_bangs_db = EXTERNAL_BANGS
 
     if search_query.external_bang:
         bang_definition, _ = get_bang_definition_and_ac(external_bangs_db, search_query.external_bang)
-        return resolve_bang_definition(bang_definition, search_query.query)[0] if bang_definition else None
+        if bang_definition and isinstance(bang_definition, str):
+            ret_val = resolve_bang_definition(bang_definition, search_query.query)[0]
 
-    return None
+    return ret_val