diff --git a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/staff-global.js b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/staff-global.js
index 81cbebcab9..796f709d55 100644
--- a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/staff-global.js
+++ b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/staff-global.js
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ function buildPatronSearchQuery(term, options) {
     let pattern_subquery_and = [];
     patterns.forEach(function (pattern, i) {
             let pattern_subquery_or = [];
-            search_fields.split('|').forEach(function (field, i) {
+            search_fields.split('\|').forEach(function (field, i) {
                 pattern_subquery_or.push(
                     { ["me." + field]: { 'like': leading_wildcard + pattern + '%' } }
                 );