diff --git a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/includes/member-search-box.inc b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/includes/member-search-box.inc
index 70c22389d2..0d02459f01 100644
--- a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/includes/member-search-box.inc
+++ b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/includes/member-search-box.inc
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 [% USE Koha %]
 [% PROCESS 'patronfields.inc' %]
 [% IF CAN_user_borrowers_edit_borrowers %]
-    [%- SET searchtype = Koha.Preference('DefaultPatronSearchMethod') -%]
+    [%- SET searchtype = searchtype || Koha.Preference('DefaultPatronSearchMethod') -%]
     [% IF( bs_tab_active ) %]
         <div id="patron_search" role="tabpanel" class="tab-pane active">
     [% ELSE %]
diff --git a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/includes/patron-search.inc b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/includes/patron-search.inc
index 18fbf42931..580a80f6a8 100644
--- a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/includes/patron-search.inc
+++ b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/includes/patron-search.inc
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 [%# - sort2: select patron sort2 field %]
 [%# - search_field: select patron field list %]
 [%# - search_type: select 'contains' or 'starts with' %]
-[%- SET searchtype = Koha.Preference('DefaultPatronSearchMethod') -%]
+[%- searchtype = searchtype || Koha.Preference('DefaultPatronSearchMethod') -%]
 [% BLOCK patron_search_filters %]
     <form id="patron_search_form">
         <fieldset class="brief">
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@
                 "-and": function(){
                     let filters = [];
 
-                    let search_type = $("#searchtype_filter").val() || "contains";
+                    let search_type = $("#searchtype_filter").val();
                     let search_fields = $("#searchfieldstype_filter").val() || "standard";
                     let pattern = $("#search_patron_filter").val();
 
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@
 
         function clearFilters() {
             $("#searchfieldstype_filter option:first").prop("selected", true);
-            $("#searchtype_filter option[value='[% searchtype || 'contains' | html %]']").prop("selected", true);
+            $("#searchtype_filter option[value='[% searchtype | html %]']").prop("selected", true);
             $("#categorycode_filter option:first").prop("selected", true);
             $("#branchcode_filter option:first").prop("selected", true);
             $("#sort1_filter").val('').trigger("change");
diff --git a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/members/member.tt b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/members/member.tt
index e65241207e..6e6a3bd92a 100644
--- a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/members/member.tt
+++ b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/members/member.tt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 [% SET libraries = Branches.all %]
 [% SET categories = Categories.all.unblessed %]
 [% SET columns = ['cardnumber', 'name-address', 'dateofbirth', 'branch', 'category', 'dateexpiry', 'checkouts', 'account_balance', 'borrowernotes', 'action'] %]
-[% SET searchtype = Koha.Preference('DefaultPatronSearchMethod') %]
+[% SET searchtype = searchtype || Koha.Preference('DefaultPatronSearchMethod') %]
 [% PROCESS 'patron-search.inc' %]
 [% INCLUDE 'doc-head-open.inc' %]
 <title>[% FILTER collapse %]
diff --git a/members/member.pl b/members/member.pl
index 909341bcd7..952e4a2491 100755
--- a/members/member.pl
+++ b/members/member.pl
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ if ( $quicksearch and $searchmember && !$circsearch ) {
 }
 
 my $searchfieldstype = $input->param('searchfieldstype') || 'standard';
+my $searchtype       = $input->param('searchtype');
 
 $template->param( 'alphabet' => C4::Context->preference('alphabet') || join ' ', 'A' .. 'Z' );
 
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ $template->param(
     searchmember        => $searchmember,
     branchcode_filter   => scalar $input->param('branchcode_filter'),
     categorycode_filter => scalar $input->param('categorycode_filter'),
+    searchtype          => $searchtype,
     searchfieldstype    => $searchfieldstype,
     PatronsPerPage      => C4::Context->preference("PatronsPerPage") || 20,
     do_not_defer_loading => !$defer_loading,