diff --git a/combo/apps/search/models.py b/combo/apps/search/models.py
index bb923a20..41b0d8ba 100644
--- a/combo/apps/search/models.py
+++ b/combo/apps/search/models.py
@@ -284,6 +284,9 @@ class SearchCell(CellBase):
             except ValueError:
                 return render_response(service)
 
+            if results.get('err'):
+                return render_response(service)
+
         if service.get('data_key'):
             results['data'] = results.get(service['data_key']) or []
         hit_templates = {}
diff --git a/tests/test_search.py b/tests/test_search.py
index 3adffe6f..bc4e8a46 100644
--- a/tests/test_search.py
+++ b/tests/test_search.py
@@ -317,6 +317,13 @@ def test_search_custom_templates(app):
             assert '<li><a href="http://example.net/123/">A B</a>' in resp.text
             assert '<div>description A</div>' in resp.text
 
+            # err != 0 is handled
+            response = {'err': 1, 'data': 'something'}
+            mock_json.json.return_value = response
+
+            resp = app.get('/ajax/search/%s/search2/?q=foo' % cell.pk, status=200)
+            assert 'no result found' in resp.text
+
 
 def test_search_cell_visibility(settings, app):
     request = RequestFactory().get('/')