diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js b/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js
index bf4110260..c86c5425e 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@
         function search(query) {
 
             logger.debug('query=' + query);
+            $('#sidebar-search-results').empty();
             if (query !== '') {
                 context.JK.search(query, app, onSearchSuccess);
             }
@@ -346,7 +347,7 @@
                     return hideSearchResults();
                 }
 
-                if (query !== '' && query.length > 2) {
+                if (query.length > 2) {
                     emptySearchResults();
                     search(query);
                 }
@@ -358,8 +359,7 @@
             });
 
             $('#sidebar-div').mouseleave(function(evt) {
-                logger.debug("onblur executing");
-                return hideSearchResults();
+                hideSearchResults();
             });
 
             // wire up FRIEND_UPDATE handler