diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/members/member/components/member-picker-modal/member-picker-modal.element.ts b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/members/member/components/member-picker-modal/member-picker-modal.element.ts
index cb03e1b029..8977625f1c 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/members/member/components/member-picker-modal/member-picker-modal.element.ts
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/members/member/components/member-picker-modal/member-picker-modal.element.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ export class UmbMemberPickerModalElement extends UmbModalBaseElement<
 	#debouncedSearch = debounce(this.#search, 300);
 
 	async #search() {
+		if (!this._searchQuery) return;
 		const { data } = await this.#searchProvider.search({ query: this._searchQuery });
 		this._searchResult = data?.items ?? [];
 		this._searching = false;