diff --git a/runnermanager.cpp b/runnermanager.cpp
index 0441863dd..fd564d03d 100644
--- a/runnermanager.cpp
+++ b/runnermanager.cpp
@@ -404,15 +404,15 @@ void RunnerManager::launchQuery(const QString &untrimmedTerm, const QString &run
     setupMatchSession();
     QString term = untrimmedTerm.trimmed();
 
-    if (d->runners.isEmpty()) {
-        d->loadRunners();
-    }
-
     if (term.isEmpty()) {
         reset();
         return;
     }
 
+    if (d->runners.isEmpty()) {
+        d->loadRunners();
+    }
+
     if (d->context.query() == term) {
         // we already are searching for this!
         return;
@@ -459,15 +459,15 @@ bool RunnerManager::execQuery(const QString &untrimmedTerm, const QString &runne
 {
     QString term = untrimmedTerm.trimmed();
 
-    if (d->runners.isEmpty()) {
-        d->loadRunners();
-    }
-
     if (term.isEmpty()) {
         reset();
         return false;
     }
 
+    if (d->runners.isEmpty()) {
+        d->loadRunners();
+    }
+
     if (d->context.query() == term) {
         // we already are searching for this!
         emit matchesChanged(d->context.matches());