diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/search/SearchRequestBuilder.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/search/SearchRequestBuilder.java
index 7a69053243a..a289471d3ac 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/search/SearchRequestBuilder.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/search/SearchRequestBuilder.java
@@ -716,7 +716,9 @@ public class SearchRequestBuilder extends BaseRequestBuilder<SearchRequest, Sear
 
     @Override
     protected void doExecute(ActionListener<SearchResponse> listener) {
-        request.source(sourceBuilder());
+        if (sourceBuilder != null) {
+            request.source(sourceBuilder());
+        }
         client.search(request, listener);
     }