diff --git a/content.py b/content.py
index d01485df6..753a08554 100644
--- a/content.py
+++ b/content.py
@@ -905,8 +905,7 @@ def addHtmlTags(baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
                     customEmojiDict = \
                         loadJson(baseDir + '/emojicustom/emoji.json')
                     if customEmojiDict:
-                        newEmojiDict = dict(emojiDict, **customEmojiDict)
-                        emojiDict = newEmojiDict
+                        emojiDict = dict(emojiDict, **customEmojiDict)
 
 #                print('TAG: looking up emoji for :' + wordStr2 + ':')
                 _addEmoji(baseDir, ':' + wordStr2 + ':', httpPrefix,
diff --git a/webapp_search.py b/webapp_search.py
index 68a21385f..629cad276 100644
--- a/webapp_search.py
+++ b/webapp_search.py
@@ -71,17 +71,17 @@ def htmlSearchEmoji(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
 
     # does the lookup file exist?
     if not os.path.isfile(emojiLookupFilename):
-        emojiForm += '<center><h5>' + \
-            translate['No results'] + '</h5></center>'
-        emojiForm += htmlFooter()
-        return emojiForm
+        if not os.path.isfile(customEmojiLookupFilename):
+            emojiForm += '<center><h5>' + \
+                translate['No results'] + '</h5></center>'
+            emojiForm += htmlFooter()
+            return emojiForm
 
     emojiJson = loadJson(emojiLookupFilename)
     if emojiJson:
         if os.path.isfile(customEmojiLookupFilename):
             customEmojiJson = loadJson(customEmojiLookupFilename)
-            newEmojiJson = dict(emojiJson, **customEmojiJson)
-            emojiDict = newEmojiJson
+            emojiJson = dict(emojiJson, **customEmojiJson)
         results = {}
         for emojiName, filename in emojiJson.items():
             if searchStr in emojiName: