diff --git a/model/user_search.go b/model/user_search.go
index 9ea69c46e1..2a814d0fcb 100644
--- a/model/user_search.go
+++ b/model/user_search.go
@@ -33,14 +33,14 @@ func (u *UserSearch) ToJson() []byte {
 
 // UserSearchFromJson will decode the input and return a User
 func UserSearchFromJson(data io.Reader) *UserSearch {
-	var us *UserSearch
+	us := UserSearch{}
 	json.NewDecoder(data).Decode(&us)
 
 	if us.Limit == 0 {
 		us.Limit = USER_SEARCH_DEFAULT_LIMIT
 	}
 
-	return us
+	return &us
 }
 
 // UserSearchOptions captures internal parameters derived from the user's permissions and a