diff --git a/src/server/internalServer.cpp b/src/server/internalServer.cpp
index c0148c24..3634ef79 100644
--- a/src/server/internalServer.cpp
+++ b/src/server/internalServer.cpp
@@ -703,14 +703,8 @@ InternalServer::search_catalog(const RequestContext& request,
     opdsDumper.setTitle("Search result for " + q);
     std::vector<std::string> bookIdsToDump = mp_library->filter(filter);
     const auto totalResults = bookIdsToDump.size();
-    size_t count(10);
-    size_t startIndex(0);
-    try {
-      count = extractFromString<unsigned long>(request.get_argument("count"));
-    } catch (...) {}
-    try {
-      startIndex = extractFromString<unsigned long>(request.get_argument("start"));
-    } catch (...) {}
+    const size_t count = request.get_optional_param("count", 10UL);
+    const size_t startIndex = request.get_optional_param("start", 0UL);
     const auto s = std::min(startIndex, totalResults);
     bookIdsToDump.erase(bookIdsToDump.begin(), bookIdsToDump.begin()+s);
     if (count>0 && bookIdsToDump.size() > count) {
diff --git a/src/server/request_context.h b/src/server/request_context.h
index 7cb8f3da..3dd446af 100644
--- a/src/server/request_context.h
+++ b/src/server/request_context.h
@@ -74,6 +74,15 @@ class RequestContext {
         return v;
     }
 
+    template<class T>
+    T get_optional_param(const std::string& name, T default_value) const
+    {
+      try {
+        return get_argument<T>(name);
+      } catch (...) {}
+      return default_value;
+    }
+
 
     RequestMethod get_method() const;
     std::string get_url() const;