diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/fragments/MyViewPagerFragment.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/fragments/MyViewPagerFragment.kt
index 1feb7b88..5b66c30f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/fragments/MyViewPagerFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/fragments/MyViewPagerFragment.kt
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ abstract class MyViewPagerFragment(context: Context, attributeSet: AttributeSet)
     }
 
     fun onSearchOpened() {
-        contactsIgnoringSearch = (fragment_list.adapter as? ContactsAdapter)?.contactItems as ArrayList
+        contactsIgnoringSearch = (fragment_list?.adapter as? ContactsAdapter)?.contactItems as? ArrayList ?: ArrayList()
     }
 
     fun onSearchClosed() {