diff --git a/src/frontend_celery/webapp/utils/search_utils.py b/src/frontend_celery/webapp/utils/search_utils.py
index d6007aeb..1d4c67d0 100644
--- a/src/frontend_celery/webapp/utils/search_utils.py
+++ b/src/frontend_celery/webapp/utils/search_utils.py
@@ -67,9 +67,10 @@ def extract_genes(request_obj):
 
 
 def extract_consensus_classifications(request_obj, allowed_classes):
+    classes = allowed_classes + ['-']
     consensus_classifications = request_obj.args.getlist('consensus')
     consensus_classifications = ';'.join(consensus_classifications)
-    regex_inner = '|'.join(allowed_classes)
+    regex_inner = '|'.join(classes)
     regex_inner = regex_inner.replace('+', '\+')
     consensus_classifications = preprocess_query(consensus_classifications, r'(' + regex_inner + r')?')
     if consensus_classifications is None:
@@ -77,9 +78,10 @@ def extract_consensus_classifications(request_obj, allowed_classes):
     return consensus_classifications
 
 def extract_user_classifications(request_obj, allowed_classes):
+    classes = allowed_classes + ['-']
     user_classifications = request_obj.args.getlist('user')
     user_classifications = ';'.join(user_classifications)
-    regex_inner = '|'.join(allowed_classes)
+    regex_inner = '|'.join(classes)
     regex_inner = regex_inner.replace('+', '\+')
     user_classifications = preprocess_query(user_classifications, r'(' + regex_inner + r')?')
     if user_classifications is None: