diff --git a/www/js/app.js b/www/js/app.js
index 7919df9c..140a8d8d 100644
--- a/www/js/app.js
+++ b/www/js/app.js
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ define(['jquery', 'zimArchiveLoader', 'util', 'uiUtil', 'cookies','abstractFiles
// Define behavior of HTML elements
$('#searchArticles').on('click', function(e) {
$("#welcomeText").hide();
+ $('.alert').hide();
$("#searchingArticles").show();
pushBrowserHistoryState(null, $('#prefix').val());
searchDirEntriesFromPrefix($('#prefix').val());
@@ -857,6 +858,11 @@ define(['jquery', 'zimArchiveLoader', 'util', 'uiUtil', 'cookies','abstractFiles
// common in unsupported packaged UIs, e.g. PhET ZIMs.
var regexpActiveContent = /