diff --git a/material/plugins/search/plugin.py b/material/plugins/search/plugin.py
index 14cf41268..f043e2840 100644
--- a/material/plugins/search/plugin.py
+++ b/material/plugins/search/plugin.py
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ class SearchIndex:
 
     # Add page to search index
     def add_entry_from_context(self, page):
-        search = page.meta.get("search", {})
+        search = page.meta.get("search") or {}
         if search.get("exclude"):
             return
 
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ class SearchIndex:
                     entry["tags"].append(name)
 
         # Set document boost
-        search = page.meta.get("search", {})
+        search = page.meta.get("search") or {}
         if "boost" in search:
             entry["boost"] = search["boost"]
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/search/plugin.py b/src/plugins/search/plugin.py
index 14cf41268..f043e2840 100644
--- a/src/plugins/search/plugin.py
+++ b/src/plugins/search/plugin.py
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ class SearchIndex:
 
     # Add page to search index
     def add_entry_from_context(self, page):
-        search = page.meta.get("search", {})
+        search = page.meta.get("search") or {}
         if search.get("exclude"):
             return
 
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ class SearchIndex:
                     entry["tags"].append(name)
 
         # Set document boost
-        search = page.meta.get("search", {})
+        search = page.meta.get("search") or {}
         if "boost" in search:
             entry["boost"] = search["boost"]