--- a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/BrowserApp.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/BrowserApp.java
@@ -4305,17 +4305,17 @@ public class BrowserApp extends GeckoApp
     }
 
     // BrowserSearch.OnSearchListener
     @Override
     public void onSearch(SearchEngine engine, final String text, final TelemetryContract.Method method) {
         // Don't store searches that happen in private tabs. This assumes the user can only
         // perform a search inside the currently selected tab, which is true for searches
         // that come from SearchEngineRow.
-        if (!Tabs.getInstance().getSelectedTab().isPrivate()) {
+        if (!mBrowserToolbar.isPrivateMode()) {
             storeSearchQuery(text);
         }
 
         // We don't use SearchEngine.getEngineIdentifier because it can
         // return a custom search engine name, which is a privacy concern.
         final String identifierToRecord = (engine.identifier != null) ? engine.identifier : "other";
         recordSearch(GeckoSharedPrefs.forProfile(this), identifierToRecord, method);
         openUrlAndStopEditing(text, engine.name);