diff --git a/app/ui/legacy/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.kt b/app/ui/legacy/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.kt
index da6bce71a..d671d6bb1 100644
--- a/app/ui/legacy/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.kt
+++ b/app/ui/legacy/src/main/java/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.kt
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ open class MessageList :
 
     override fun dispatchKeyEvent(event: KeyEvent): Boolean {
         var eventHandled = false
-        if (event.action == KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN && searchView.isIconified) {
+        if (event.action == KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN && ::searchView.isInitialized && searchView.isIconified) {
             eventHandled = onCustomKeyDown(event)
         }