diff --git a/core/search/cache.py b/core/search/cache.py
index 4692f3dd..e988c04d 100644
--- a/core/search/cache.py
+++ b/core/search/cache.py
@@ -78,17 +78,17 @@ def get_cache_key(
     normalized_query = (query or '').strip().lower()
 
     try:
-        active_server = active_server_provider() or 'unknown'
+        active_server = active_server_provider()
     except Exception:
         active_server = 'unknown'
 
     try:
-        fallback_source = fallback_source_provider() or 'unknown'
+        fallback_source = fallback_source_provider()
     except Exception:
         fallback_source = 'unknown'
 
     try:
-        hydrabase_active = bool(hydrabase_active_provider())
+        hydrabase_active = hydrabase_active_provider()
     except Exception:
         hydrabase_active = False
 
diff --git a/tests/search/test_search_cache.py b/tests/search/test_search_cache.py
index 15ae6517..eb4a67d8 100644
--- a/tests/search/test_search_cache.py
+++ b/tests/search/test_search_cache.py
@@ -119,3 +119,15 @@ def test_key_hydrabase_provider_failure_falls_back_to_false():
                                      fallback_source_provider=lambda: 'spotify',
                                      hydrabase_active_provider=boom)
     assert key[3] is False
+
+
+def test_key_preserves_falsy_provider_returns():
+    """Original behavior: if provider returns None / '' on success, store it
+    as-is. Don't coerce to 'unknown' — that's reserved for exceptions."""
+    key = search_cache.get_cache_key('q', None,
+                                     active_server_provider=lambda: None,
+                                     fallback_source_provider=lambda: '',
+                                     hydrabase_active_provider=lambda: 0)
+    assert key[1] is None
+    assert key[2] == ''
+    assert key[3] == 0