diff --git a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/staff-global.js b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/staff-global.js
index 139dec9235..bcba5c782a 100644
--- a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/staff-global.js
+++ b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/staff-global.js
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ function buildPatronSearchQuery(term, options) {
         });
     // If not, we use DefaultPatronSearchFields system preference instead
     } else {
-        search_fields = defaultPatronSearchFields;
+        search_fields = defaultPatronSearchFields.split('\|');
     }
 
     // Add each pattern for each search field