diff --git a/etemplate/inc/class.so_sql.inc.php b/etemplate/inc/class.so_sql.inc.php
index 09c127baee..ccab4b2b87 100644
--- a/etemplate/inc/class.so_sql.inc.php
+++ b/etemplate/inc/class.so_sql.inc.php
@@ -1251,7 +1251,7 @@ class so_sql
 			}
 			$columns[] = sprintf($this->db->capabilities[egw_db::CAPABILITY_CAST_AS_VARCHAR],"COALESCE($col,'')");
 		}
-		if(!$search_cols)
+		if(!$columns)
 		{
 			return array();
 		}