diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 7fdee397f9..c633af9932 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ function start() {
 	nconf.set('secure', urlObject.protocol === 'https:');
 	nconf.set('use_port', !!urlObject.port);
 	nconf.set('relative_path', relativePath);
-	nconf.set('port', urlObject.port || nconf.get('port') || nconf.get('PORT') || 4567);
+	nconf.set('port', urlObject.port || nconf.get('port') || nconf.get('PORT') || (nconf.get('PORT_ENV_VAR') ? nconf.get(nconf.get('PORT_ENV_VAR')) : false) || 4567);
 	nconf.set('upload_url', nconf.get('upload_path').replace(/^\/public/, ''));
 
 	if (nconf.get('isPrimary') === 'true') {
diff --git a/public/src/modules/search.js b/public/src/modules/search.js
index be6ac6a711..147683c550 100644
--- a/public/src/modules/search.js
+++ b/public/src/modules/search.js
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ define('search', ['navigator', 'translator'], function(nav, translator) {
 
 	Search.getSearchPreferences = function() {
 		try {
-			return JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('search-preferences'));
+			return JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('search-preferences') || '{}');
 		} catch(e) {
 			return {};
 		}
@@ -179,4 +179,4 @@ define('search', ['navigator', 'translator'], function(nav, translator) {
 	};
 
 	return Search;
-});
\ No newline at end of file
+});