diff --git a/app/code/Magento/CatalogSearch/Model/Adminhtml/System/Config/Backend/Engine.php b/app/code/Magento/CatalogSearch/Model/Adminhtml/System/Config/Backend/Engine.php
index 26edfecea29a9..4ac76989516d1 100644
--- a/app/code/Magento/CatalogSearch/Model/Adminhtml/System/Config/Backend/Engine.php
+++ b/app/code/Magento/CatalogSearch/Model/Adminhtml/System/Config/Backend/Engine.php
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ public function beforeSave()
         parent::beforeSave();
         $value = (string)$this->getValue();
         if (empty($value)) {
-            $defaultCountry = $this->engineResolver->getCurrentSearchEngine();
-            $this->setValue($defaultCountry);
+            $this->setValue($this->engineResolver->getCurrentSearchEngine());
         }
         return $this;
     }