diff --git a/content.py b/content.py
index 57725ecde..d01485df6 100644
--- a/content.py
+++ b/content.py
@@ -905,8 +905,8 @@ def addHtmlTags(baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
                     customEmojiDict = \
                         loadJson(baseDir + '/emojicustom/emoji.json')
                     if customEmojiDict:
-                        emojiDict = \
-                            dict(emojiDict, **customEmojiDict)
+                        newEmojiDict = dict(emojiDict, **customEmojiDict)
+                        emojiDict = newEmojiDict
 
 #                print('TAG: looking up emoji for :' + wordStr2 + ':')
                 _addEmoji(baseDir, ':' + wordStr2 + ':', httpPrefix,
diff --git a/webapp_search.py b/webapp_search.py
index 6b70b5fbb..68a21385f 100644
--- a/webapp_search.py
+++ b/webapp_search.py
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ def htmlSearchEmoji(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
     if emojiJson:
         if os.path.isfile(customEmojiLookupFilename):
             customEmojiJson = loadJson(customEmojiLookupFilename)
-            emojiJson = dict(emojiJson, **customEmojiJson)
+            newEmojiJson = dict(emojiJson, **customEmojiJson)
+            emojiDict = newEmojiJson
         results = {}
         for emojiName, filename in emojiJson.items():
             if searchStr in emojiName: