diff --git a/lib/philomena_web/plugs/image_filter.ex b/lib/philomena_web/plugs/image_filter.ex
index 2a6131ad..ce0f50a9 100644
--- a/lib/philomena_web/plugs/image_filter.ex
+++ b/lib/philomena_web/plugs/image_filter.ex
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 defmodule PhilomenaWeb.Plugs.ImageFilter do
   import Plug.Conn
+  import Search.String
 
   alias Philomena.Images.Query
   alias Pow.Plug
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ defmodule PhilomenaWeb.Plugs.ImageFilter do
     filter = conn.assigns[:current_filter]
 
     tag_exclusion = %{terms: %{tag_ids: filter.hidden_tag_ids}}
-    {:ok, query_exclusion} = Query.compile(user, filter.hidden_complex_str)
+    {:ok, query_exclusion} = Query.compile(user, normalize(filter.hidden_complex_str))
 
     query = %{
       bool: %{
diff --git a/lib/search/string.ex b/lib/search/string.ex
index adbe35c5..8437b784 100644
--- a/lib/search/string.ex
+++ b/lib/search/string.ex
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 defmodule Search.String do
+  def normalize(nil) do
+    ""
+  end
+
   def normalize(str) do
     str
     |> String.replace("\r", "")