diff --git a/modoboa/extensions/webmail/imaputils.py b/modoboa/extensions/webmail/imaputils.py
index 0a36ee7c4..f065a9345 100644
--- a/modoboa/extensions/webmail/imaputils.py
+++ b/modoboa/extensions/webmail/imaputils.py
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ class IMAPconnector(object):
             raise ImapError(e)
         if typ == "NO":
             raise ImapError(data)
-        if not kwargs.has_key('responses'):
+        if not 'responses' in kwargs:
             if not name in self.m.untagged_responses:
                 return None
             return self.m.untagged_responses.pop(name)
@@ -283,14 +283,14 @@ class IMAPconnector(object):
         :param order: sorting order
         :param folder: mailbox to scan
         """
-        if "order" in kwargs.keys() and kwargs["order"]:
+        if "order" in kwargs and kwargs["order"]:
             sign = kwargs["order"][:1]
             criterion = kwargs["order"][1:].upper()
             if sign == '-':
                 criterion = "REVERSE %s" % criterion
         else:
             criterion = "REVERSE DATE"
-        folder = kwargs.has_key("folder") and kwargs["folder"] or None
+        folder = kwargs["folder"] if "folder" in kwargs else None
 
         # FIXME: pourquoi suis je obligé de faire un SELECT ici?  un
         # EXAMINE plante mais je pense que c'est du à une mauvaise
diff --git a/modoboa/extensions/webmail/lib.py b/modoboa/extensions/webmail/lib.py
index 878d35070..b42bfb54d 100644
--- a/modoboa/extensions/webmail/lib.py
+++ b/modoboa/extensions/webmail/lib.py
@@ -149,13 +149,19 @@ class ImapListing(EmailListing):
             int(parameters.get_user(user, "REFRESH_INTERVAL")) * 1000
 
     def parse_search_parameters(self, criterion, pattern):
+
         def or_criterion(old, c):
             if old == "":
                 return c
             return "OR (%s) (%s)" % (old, c)
-        if criterion == "both":
-            criterion = "from_addr, subject"
+
+        if criterion == u"both":
+            criterion = u"from_addr, subject"
         criterions = ""
+        if type(pattern) is unicode:
+            pattern = pattern.encode("utf-8")
+        if type(criterion) is unicode:
+            criterion = criterion.encode("utf-8")
         for c in criterion.split(','):
             if c == "from_addr":
                 key = "FROM"
@@ -164,8 +170,8 @@ class ImapListing(EmailListing):
             else:
                 continue
             criterions = \
-                unicode(or_criterion(criterions, '%s "%s"' % (key, pattern)))
-        self.mbc.criterions = [unicode("(%s)" % criterions)]
+                or_criterion(criterions, '(%s "%s")' % (key, pattern))
+        self.mbc.criterions = [criterions]
 
     @staticmethod
     def computequota(mbc):
diff --git a/modoboa/static/js/searchbar.js b/modoboa/static/js/searchbar.js
index b9f1860bc..01e896825 100644
--- a/modoboa/static/js/searchbar.js
+++ b/modoboa/static/js/searchbar.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
                 }
             });
             if (this.options.navobj.params.pattern != undefined) {
-                this.$element.attr("value", this.options.navobj.params.pattern);
+                this.$element.attr("value", this.options.navobj.getparam("pattern"));
             }
             if (this.options.navobj.params.criteria != undefined) {
                 $("#crit_" + this.options.navobj.params.criteria).attr("checked", "checked");