--- a/mobile/android/chrome/content/browser.js
+++ b/mobile/android/chrome/content/browser.js
@@ -1624,17 +1624,17 @@ var BrowserApp = {
         this._handleTabClosed(this.getTabForId(data.tabId), data.showUndoToast);
         break;
       }
 
       case "keyword-search":
         // This event refers to a search via the URL bar, not a bookmarks
         // keyword search. Note that this code assumes that the user can only
         // perform a keyword search on the selected tab.
-        this.isSearch = true;
+        this.selectedTab.isSearch = true;
 
         // Don't store queries in private browsing mode.
         let isPrivate = PrivateBrowsingUtils.isBrowserPrivate(this.selectedTab.browser);
         let query = isPrivate ? "" : aData;
 
         let engine = aSubject.QueryInterface(Ci.nsISearchEngine);
         Messaging.sendRequest({
           type: "Search:Keyword",