diff --git a/CRM/Contact/Form/Search.php b/CRM/Contact/Form/Search.php
index 4db0e2ea0efa..a225db12254f 100644
--- a/CRM/Contact/Form/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Contact/Form/Search.php
@@ -302,7 +302,8 @@ public static function getModeValue($mode = CRM_Contact_BAO_Query::MODE_CONTACTS
     }
 
     self::setModeValues();
-    if (!array_key_exists($mode, self::$_modeValues)) {
+    // Note $mode might === FALSE because array_search above failed, e.g. for searchPane='location'
+    if (empty(self::$_modeValues[$mode])) {
       $mode = CRM_Contact_BAO_Query::MODE_CONTACTS;
     }