diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
index 2c63f9d7e..bc4990f53 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ class HintManager(QObject):
         self._win_id = win_id
         self._tab_id = tab_id
         self._context = None
+        self._filterstr = None
         self._word_hinter = WordHinter()
         mode_manager = objreg.get('mode-manager', scope='window',
                                   window=win_id)