diff --git a/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-metadata-page/browse-by-metadata-page.component.ts b/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-metadata-page/browse-by-metadata-page.component.ts
index 113bc67c924..75dbfcfc82a 100644
--- a/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-metadata-page/browse-by-metadata-page.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/browse-by/browse-by-metadata-page/browse-by-metadata-page.component.ts
@@ -161,7 +161,11 @@ export class BrowseByMetadataPageComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
             this.value = '';
           }
 
-          if (typeof params.startsWith === 'string'){
+          if (params.startsWith === undefined || params.startsWith === '') {
+            this.startsWith = undefined;
+          }
+
+        if (typeof params.startsWith === 'string'){
             this.startsWith = params.startsWith.trim();
           }