diff --git a/Netdisco/lib/Netdisco/Web/Search.pm b/Netdisco/lib/Netdisco/Web/Search.pm
index dea5c075..18caec68 100644
--- a/Netdisco/lib/Netdisco/Web/Search.pm
+++ b/Netdisco/lib/Netdisco/Web/Search.pm
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ get '/search' => sub {
       schema('netdisco')->resultset('Device')->get_distinct('vendor')
     ]);
 
+    params->{'q'} ||= '_'; # FIXME a cheat Inventory, for now
+
     my $q = param('q');
     if ($q and not param('tab')) {
         # pick most likely tab for initial results
@@ -217,10 +219,6 @@ get '/search' => sub {
             params->{'tab'} ||= 'node';
         }
     }
-    elsif (not $q) {
-        redirect '/';
-        return;
-    }
 
     # list of tabs
     var('tabs' => [