diff --git a/src/components/admin/SettingsTab.tsx b/src/components/admin/SettingsTab.tsx
index 4508136..30d9fb7 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/SettingsTab.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/SettingsTab.tsx
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export function SettingsTab({
   });
 
   // Search mode: flat list of filtered results
-  if (searchQuery) {
+  if (searchQuery.trim()) {
     if (filteredSettings.length === 0) {
       return (
         <div className="rounded-xl border border-dark-700/30 bg-dark-800/30 p-12 text-center">
diff --git a/src/pages/AdminSettings.tsx b/src/pages/AdminSettings.tsx
index 857a289..700a7b3 100644
--- a/src/pages/AdminSettings.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/AdminSettings.tsx
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ export default function AdminSettings() {
             />
           );
         }
+        // Unknown section — fallback to branding
+        setActiveSection('branding');
         return null;
     }
   };