diff --git a/CRM/Core/Form.php b/CRM/Core/Form.php
index d6035cad3def..5cb75a5b2b08 100644
--- a/CRM/Core/Form.php
+++ b/CRM/Core/Form.php
@@ -2388,4 +2388,24 @@ public function getCurrency($submittedValues = array()) {
     return $currency;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Is the form in view or edit mode.
+   *
+   * The 'addField' function relies on the form action being one of a set list
+   * of actions. Checking for these allows for an early return.
+   *
+   * @return bool
+   */
+  function isFormInViewOrEditMode() {
+    return in_array($this->_action, [
+      CRM_Core_Action::UPDATE,
+      CRM_Core_Action::ADD,
+      CRM_Core_Action::VIEW,
+      CRM_Core_Action::BROWSE,
+      CRM_Core_Action::BASIC,
+      CRM_Core_Action::ADVANCED,
+      CRM_Core_Action::PREVIEW,
+    ]);
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/CRM/Core/Form/Search.php b/CRM/Core/Form/Search.php
index dabab8620fea..3b3dcda18b6f 100644
--- a/CRM/Core/Form/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Core/Form/Search.php
@@ -203,6 +203,9 @@ public function getDefaultContext() {
    * Add generic fields that specify the contact.
    */
   protected function addContactSearchFields() {
+    if (!$this->isFormInViewOrEditMode()) {
+      return;
+    }
     $this->addSortNameField();
 
     $this->_group = CRM_Core_PseudoConstant::nestedGroup();