diff --git a/ckan/templates/user/snippets/followee_dropdown.html b/ckan/templates/user/snippets/followee_dropdown.html
index 5c2964977a1..5142446afac 100644
--- a/ckan/templates/user/snippets/followee_dropdown.html
+++ b/ckan/templates/user/snippets/followee_dropdown.html
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@
     <div class="popover-header">
       <div class="input-group">
         <span class="input-group-addon"><i class="fa fa-search"></i></span>
-        <input type="text" class="form-control" name="q" placeholder="{{ _('Search list...') }}" value="{{context.q}}" autocomplete="off">
+        <input type="text" class="form-control" name="q" placeholder="{{ _('Search list...') }}"
+               aria-label="Search list" value="{{ context.q | default('', true) }}"
+               autocomplete="off">
       </div>
     </div>
     {% if followees %}