diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/HomeActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/HomeActivity.kt
index 27bf3a03e..f216fd405 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/HomeActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/HomeActivity.kt
@@ -147,15 +147,17 @@ open class HomeActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
         openToBrowser(BrowserDirection.FromGlobal, customTabSessionId)
     }
 
+    @Suppress("LongParameterList")
     fun openToBrowserAndLoad(
         searchTermOrURL: String,
         newTab: Boolean,
         from: BrowserDirection,
         customTabSessionId: String? = null,
-        engine: SearchEngine? = null
+        engine: SearchEngine? = null,
+        forceSearch: Boolean = false
     ) {
         openToBrowser(from, customTabSessionId)
-        load(searchTermOrURL, newTab, engine)
+        load(searchTermOrURL, newTab, engine, forceSearch)
     }
 
     fun openToBrowser(from: BrowserDirection, customTabSessionId: String? = null) {
@@ -180,7 +182,7 @@ open class HomeActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
         navHost.navController.navigate(directions)
     }
 
-    private fun load(searchTermOrURL: String, newTab: Boolean, engine: SearchEngine?) {
+    private fun load(searchTermOrURL: String, newTab: Boolean, engine: SearchEngine?, forceSearch: Boolean) {
         val isPrivate = this.browsingModeManager.isPrivate
 
         val loadUrlUseCase = if (newTab) {
@@ -198,7 +200,7 @@ open class HomeActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
             } else components.useCases.searchUseCases.defaultSearch.invoke(searchTerms, engine)
         }
 
-        if (searchTermOrURL.isUrl()) {
+        if (!forceSearch && searchTermOrURL.isUrl()) {
             loadUrlUseCase.invoke(searchTermOrURL.toNormalizedUrl())
         } else {
             searchUseCase.invoke(searchTermOrURL)
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/search/SearchFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/search/SearchFragment.kt
index b2154bc26..80df4ba0f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/search/SearchFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/search/SearchFragment.kt
@@ -228,7 +228,8 @@ class SearchFragment : Fragment(), BackHandler {
                             searchTermOrURL = it.searchTerms,
                             newTab = sessionId == null,
                             from = BrowserDirection.FromSearch,
-                            engine = it.engine
+                            engine = it.engine,
+                            forceSearch = true
                         )
 
                         val engine = it.engine ?: requireComponents