diff --git a/digimarks.py b/digimarks.py
index e4cb5bd..f93575f 100644
--- a/digimarks.py
+++ b/digimarks.py
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ def bookmarks(userkey, filtermethod = None, sortmethod = None):
     message = request.args.get('message')
     tags = get_cached_tags(userkey)
 
-    filter_text = None
+    filter_text = ''
     if request.form:
         filter_text = request.form['filter_text']
 
diff --git a/templates/bookmarks.html b/templates/bookmarks.html
index 93d11b6..fa08295 100644
--- a/templates/bookmarks.html
+++ b/templates/bookmarks.html
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 <div class="row">
     <form action="{{ url_for('bookmarks', userkey=userkey) }}" method="POST">
         <div class="input-field col l10 m10 s8">
-            <input placeholder="filter_text" type="text" name="filter_text" id="filter_text" value="{{ filter_text }}" class="validate" />
+            <input placeholder="search text" type="text" name="filter_text" id="filter_text" value="{{ filter_text }}" class="validate" />
         </div>
 
         <div class="input-field col l2 m2 s4">