Yoann Rodière ( https://hibernate.atlassian.net/secure/ViewProfile.jspa?accountId=557058%... ) *commented* on HSEARCH-3844 ( https://hibernate.atlassian.net/browse/HSEARCH-3844?atlOrigin=eyJpIjoiNDI... ) Re: Exception: null: java.lang.NullPointerException when use simpleQueryString() ( https://hibernate.atlassian.net/browse/HSEARCH-3844?atlOrigin=eyJpIjoiNDI... ) You are mixing two approaches here, which may be the reason you're getting this exception. *Step objects, like the one you're storing in the "select" and "sort" variables, are not meant to be passed around at all. For that, you should call toPredicate() / toSort() etc. and then you will get a SearchPredicate / SearchSort /etc. that you can safely pass around and even re-use. Try this: if (searchFullText != null ) { select = scope.predicate().simpleQueryString() .field( "shoppingName" ) .matching(searchFullText) .defaultOperator(BooleanOperator.AND).toPredicate(); } else { select = scope.predicate().matchAll().toPredicate(); } SearchQuery<Assortment> query = session.search(scope) .where(select) .sort(sort).toQuery(); or this: SearchQuery<Assortment> query = session.search(scope) .where(f -> { if (searchFullText != null ) { return f.simpleQueryString() .field( "shoppingName" ) .matching(searchFullText) .defaultOperator(BooleanOperator.AND); } else { return f.matchAll(); } } ) .sort( f -> ... ).toQuery(); ( https://hibernate.atlassian.net/browse/HSEARCH-3844#add-comment?atlOrigin... ) Add Comment ( https://hibernate.atlassian.net/browse/HSEARCH-3844#add-comment?atlOrigin... ) Get Jira notifications on your phone! Download the Jira Cloud app for Android ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atlassian.android.jira.... ) or iOS ( https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1006972087?pt=696495&ct=Em... ) This message was sent by Atlassian Jira (v1001.0.0-SNAPSHOT#100121- sha1:0fbe7c1 )