--- a/client/src/components/Search.vue	Tue Dec 17 14:27:44 2019 +0100
+++ b/client/src/components/Search.vue	Tue Dec 17 15:05:56 2019 +0100
@@ -255,10 +255,14 @@
         })
         .then(() => {})
         .catch(error => {
-          const { status, data } = error.response;
+          let message = "Problems with backend";
+          if (error.response) {
+            const { status, data } = error.response;
+            message = `${status}: ${data.message || data}`;
+          }
           displayError({
             title: this.$gettext("Backend Error"),
-            message: `${status}: ${data.message || data}`
+            message: message
           });
         });
     },
@@ -294,10 +298,14 @@
           this.searchResults = response.data;
         })
         .catch(error => {
-          const { status, data } = error.response;
+          let message = "Problems with backend";
+          if (error.response) {
+            const { status, data } = error.response;
+            message = `${status}: ${data.message || data}`;
+          }
           displayError({
             title: this.$gettext("Backend Error"),
-            message: `${status}: ${data.message || data}`
+            message: message
           });
         });