diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SearchComponent.tsx b/frontend/src/components/SearchComponent.tsx
index da8cc91d..e397b09d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SearchComponent.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SearchComponent.tsx
@@ -17,18 +17,20 @@ const SearchComponent: React.FC<SearchComponentProps> = ({
   formatBookName,
   getBookUrlName,
   books = [],
-  selectedVersion: initialVersion = 'esv',
+  selectedVersion: initialVersion,
   onVersionChange,
   onClose,
   isModal = false
 }) => {
+  // Default to ESV if no version is selected, otherwise use the current version
+  const defaultVersion = initialVersion || 'esv';
   const [query, setQuery] = useState('');
   const [results, setResults] = useState<SearchResult[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
   const [error, setError] = useState('');
   const [hasSearched, setHasSearched] = useState(false);
   const [selectedBook, setSelectedBook] = useState<string>('');
-  const [selectedVersion, setSelectedVersion] = useState<string>(initialVersion);
+  const [selectedVersion, setSelectedVersion] = useState<string>(defaultVersion);
   const searchTimeoutRef = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout>();
   const navigate = useNavigate();