diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index aea37e4d..ba18424d 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@ bool regexp_init(const char *regexp)
  * full screen refresh when the mark is on, in case the cursor has moved. */
 void tidy_up_after_search(void)
 {
-	/* Searching in a help text does not support regular expressions. */
-	if (inhelp)
-		return;
-
 	if (have_compiled_regexp) {
 		regfree(&search_regexp);
 		have_compiled_regexp = FALSE;
@@ -166,7 +162,9 @@ void search_init(bool replacing, bool retain_answer)
 			break;
 	}
 
-	tidy_up_after_search();
+	if (!inhelp)
+		tidy_up_after_search();
+
 	free(thedefault);
 }
 
@@ -385,7 +383,8 @@ void do_research(void)
 
 	go_looking();
 
-	tidy_up_after_search();
+	if (!inhelp)
+		tidy_up_after_search();
 }
 
 /* Search in the backward direction for the next occurrence. */