diff --git a/searx/search.py b/searx/search.py
index a8de143b..4c4a6a2f 100644
--- a/searx/search.py
+++ b/searx/search.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def make_callback(engine_name, callback, params, result_container):
     return process_callback
 
 
-def get_search_query_from_webapp(preferences, request_data):
+def get_search_query_from_webapp(preferences, form):
     query = None
     query_engines = []
     query_categories = []
@@ -147,11 +147,11 @@ def get_search_query_from_webapp(preferences, request_data):
     query_safesearch = preferences.get_value('safesearch')
 
     # TODO better exceptions
-    if not request_data.get('q'):
+    if not form.get('q'):
         raise Exception('noquery')
 
     # set pagenumber
-    pageno_param = request_data.get('pageno', '1')
+    pageno_param = form.get('pageno', '1')
     if not pageno_param.isdigit() or int(pageno_param) < 1:
         pageno_param = 1
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def get_search_query_from_webapp(preferences, request_data):
 
     # parse query, if tags are set, which change
     # the serch engine or search-language
-    raw_text_query = RawTextQuery(request_data['q'], disabled_engines)
+    raw_text_query = RawTextQuery(form['q'], disabled_engines)
     raw_text_query.parse_query()
 
     # set query
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def get_search_query_from_webapp(preferences, request_data):
     if len(raw_text_query.languages):
         query_lang = raw_text_query.languages[-1]
 
-    query_time_range = request_data.get('time_range')
+    query_time_range = form.get('time_range')
 
     query_engines = raw_text_query.engines
 
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ def get_search_query_from_webapp(preferences, request_data):
     else:
         # set categories/engines
         load_default_categories = True
-        for pd_name, pd in request_data.items():
+        for pd_name, pd in form.items():
             if pd_name == 'categories':
                 query_categories.extend(categ for categ in map(unicode.strip, pd.split(',')) if categ in categories)
             elif pd_name == 'engines':
diff --git a/searx/webapp.py b/searx/webapp.py
index 7c3cb7e9..d3d5bb51 100644
--- a/searx/webapp.py
+++ b/searx/webapp.py
@@ -364,16 +364,6 @@ def render(template_name, override_theme=None, **kwargs):
 
 @app.before_request
 def pre_request():
-    # request.request_data
-    if request.method == 'POST':
-        request_data = request.form
-    elif request.method == 'GET':
-        request_data = request.args
-    else:
-        request_data = {}
-
-    request.request_data = request_data
-
     # merge GET, POST vars
     preferences = Preferences(themes, categories.keys(), engines, plugins)
     try:
@@ -416,7 +406,7 @@ def index():
     search_query = None
     result_container = None
     try:
-        search_query = get_search_query_from_webapp(request.preferences, request.request_data)
+        search_query = get_search_query_from_webapp(request.preferences, request.form)
         # search = Search(search_query) #  without plugins
         search = SearchWithPlugins(search_query, request)
         result_container = search.search()
@@ -428,8 +418,8 @@ def index():
     results = result_container.get_ordered_results()
 
     # UI
-    advanced_search = request.request_data.get('advanced_search', None)
-    output_format = request.request_data.get('format', 'html')
+    advanced_search = request.form.get('advanced_search', None)
+    output_format = request.form.get('format', 'html')
     if output_format not in ['html', 'csv', 'json', 'rss']:
         output_format = 'html'
 
@@ -490,7 +480,7 @@ def index():
         response_rss = render(
             'opensearch_response_rss.xml',
             results=results,
-            q=request.request_data['q'],
+            q=request.form['q'],
             number_of_results=number_of_results,
             base_url=get_base_url()
         )
@@ -499,7 +489,7 @@ def index():
     return render(
         'results.html',
         results=results,
-        q=request.request_data['q'],
+        q=request.form['q'],
         selected_categories=search_query.categories,
         pageno=search_query.pageno,
         time_range=search_query.time_range,
@@ -531,7 +521,7 @@ def autocompleter():
     disabled_engines = request.preferences.engines.get_disabled()
 
     # parse query
-    raw_text_query = RawTextQuery(request.request_data.get('q', '').encode('utf-8'), disabled_engines)
+    raw_text_query = RawTextQuery(request.form.get('q', '').encode('utf-8'), disabled_engines)
     raw_text_query.parse_query()
 
     # check if search query is set
@@ -564,7 +554,7 @@ def autocompleter():
         results.append(raw_text_query.getFullQuery())
 
     # return autocompleter results
-    if request.request_data.get('format') == 'x-suggestions':
+    if request.form.get('format') == 'x-suggestions':
         return Response(json.dumps([raw_text_query.query, results]),
                         mimetype='application/json')