diff --git a/Bugzilla/Search.pm b/Bugzilla/Search.pm
index 3f67ee364..58476e766 100644
--- a/Bugzilla/Search.pm
+++ b/Bugzilla/Search.pm
@@ -914,7 +914,6 @@ sub CHANGEDFROMTO_FIELDS
 # Search operators
 use constant OPERATORS => {
     equals          => \&_equals,
-    notequals       => \&_notequals,
     casesubstring   => \&_casesubstring,
     substring       => \&_substring,
     substr          => \&_substring,
@@ -3124,21 +3123,7 @@ sub _equals
     }
     else
     {
-        $self->{term} = "$self->{fieldsql} = $self->{quoted}";
-    }
-}
-
-sub _notequals
-{
-    my $self = shift;
-    if ($self->{value} eq '')
-    {
-        $self->{term} = "($self->{fieldsql} != $self->{quoted} AND $self->{fieldsql} IS NOT NULL)";
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        $self->{allow_null} = 1;
-        $self->{term} = "($self->{fieldsql} != $self->{quoted} OR $self->{fieldsql} IS NULL)";
+        $self->{term} = "($self->{fieldsql} = $self->{quoted} AND $self->{fieldsql} IS NOT NULL)";
     }
 }