diff --git a/api/etemplate.php b/api/etemplate.php
index b03d5ab039..54a77a017c 100644
--- a/api/etemplate.php
+++ b/api/etemplate.php
@@ -234,11 +234,16 @@ function send_template()
 						$attrs['editModeEnabled'] = 'true';
 					}
 				}
-				$attrs['searchUrl'] = $attrs['autocomplete_url'] ?? 'EGroupware\\Api\\Etemplate\\Widget\\Taglist::'.
-					($matches[2] === '-email' ? 'ajax_email' : 'ajax_search');
-				if (isset($attrs['autocomplete_params']))
+				// only set (default) searchUrl for regular taglist or taglist-email, or if a non-empty autocomplete_url was given
+				if (empty($matches['2']) || $matches[2] === '-email' || !empty($attrs['autocomplete_url']))
 				{
-					$attrs['searchOptions'] = $attrs['autocomplete_params'];
+					$attrs['searchUrl'] = $attrs['autocomplete_url'] ?? 'EGroupware\\Api\\Etemplate\\Widget\\Taglist::'.
+						($matches[2] === '-email' ? 'ajax_email' : 'ajax_search');
+
+					if (isset($attrs['autocomplete_params']))
+					{
+						$attrs['searchOptions'] = $attrs['autocomplete_params'];
+					}
 				}
 				unset($attrs['autocomplete_url'], $attrs['autocomplete_params']);
 				if (isset($attrs['maxSelection']) && $attrs['maxSelection'] === '1')