diff --git a/club/forms.py b/club/forms.py
index 56dfd726..3c10dfce 100644
--- a/club/forms.py
+++ b/club/forms.py
@@ -331,6 +331,11 @@ class ClubSearchForm(forms.ModelForm):
         initial=True,
     )
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+    def __init__(self, *args, data: dict | None = None, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, data=data, **kwargs)
+        if data is not None and "club_status" not in data:
+            # if the key is missing, it is considered as None,
+            # even though we want the default True value to be applied in such a case
+            # so we enforce it.
+            self.fields["club_status"].value = True
         self.fields["name"].required = False
diff --git a/club/views.py b/club/views.py
index 71cf8f0b..6a9963a9 100644
--- a/club/views.py
+++ b/club/views.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class ClubListView(AllowFragment, FormMixin, ListView):
 
     def get_form_kwargs(self):
         res = super().get_form_kwargs()
-        if self.request.GET:
+        if self.request.method == "GET":
             res |= {"data": self.request.GET, "initial": self.request.GET}
         return res