diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/settings/search/AddSearchEngineFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/settings/search/AddSearchEngineFragment.kt
index 627b23665..3d1f0790c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/settings/search/AddSearchEngineFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/settings/search/AddSearchEngineFragment.kt
@@ -171,7 +171,8 @@ class AddSearchEngineFragment : Fragment(), CompoundButton.OnCheckedChangeListen
         custom_search_engine_search_string_field.error = when {
             searchString.isEmpty() ->
                 resources.getString(R.string.search_add_custom_engine_error_empty_search_string)
-            !searchString.contains("%s") ->
+            !searchString.contains("%s")
+                    || !searchString.contains("http") ->
                 resources.getString(R.string.search_add_custom_engine_error_missing_template)
             else -> null
         }