diff --git a/searx/query.py b/searx/query.py
index 422cd57b5..e61e24f2c 100644
--- a/searx/query.py
+++ b/searx/query.py
@@ -125,12 +125,12 @@ class RawTextQuery:
                     searx_query_part = True
                     engine_name = engine_shortcuts[prefix]
                     if engine_name in engines:
-                        self.enginerefs.append(EngineRef(engine_name, 'none', True))
+                        self.enginerefs.append(EngineRef(engine_name, 'none'))
 
                 # check if prefix is equal with engine name
                 elif prefix in engines:
                     searx_query_part = True
-                    self.enginerefs.append(EngineRef(prefix, 'none', True))
+                    self.enginerefs.append(EngineRef(prefix, 'none'))
 
                 # check if prefix is equal with categorie name
                 elif prefix in categories:
diff --git a/searx/search/__init__.py b/searx/search/__init__.py
index e9e4f5640..0d45f0b7c 100644
--- a/searx/search/__init__.py
+++ b/searx/search/__init__.py
@@ -52,18 +52,17 @@ def initialize(settings_engines=None):
 
 class EngineRef:
 
-    __slots__ = 'name', 'category', 'from_bang'
+    __slots__ = 'name', 'category'
 
-    def __init__(self, name: str, category: str, from_bang: bool=False):
+    def __init__(self, name: str, category: str):
         self.name = name
         self.category = category
-        self.from_bang = from_bang
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return "EngineRef({!r}, {!r}, {!r})".format(self.name, self.category, self.from_bang)
+        return "EngineRef({!r}, {!r})".format(self.name, self.category)
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
-        return self.name == other.name and self.category == other.category and self.from_bang == other.from_bang
+        return self.name == other.name and self.category == other.category
 
 
 class SearchQuery:
diff --git a/searx/webadapter.py b/searx/webadapter.py
index 7bec42651..0ad82c62c 100644
--- a/searx/webadapter.py
+++ b/searx/webadapter.py
@@ -109,17 +109,6 @@ def parse_timeout(form: Dict[str, str], raw_text_query: RawTextQuery) -> Optiona
         raise SearxParameterException('timeout_limit', timeout_limit)
 
 
-def parse_specific(raw_text_query: RawTextQuery) -> Tuple[List[EngineRef], List[str]]:
-    query_engineref_list = raw_text_query.enginerefs
-    additional_categories = set()
-    for engineref in raw_text_query.enginerefs:
-        if engineref.from_bang:
-            additional_categories.add('none')
-        else:
-            additional_categories.add(engineref.category)
-    return query_engineref_list
-
-
 def parse_category_form(query_categories: List[str], name: str, value: str) -> None:
     if name == 'categories':
         query_categories.extend(categ for categ in map(str.strip, value.split(',')) if categ in categories)
@@ -232,7 +221,7 @@ def get_search_query_from_webapp(preferences: Preferences, form: Dict[str, str])
     if not is_locked('categories') and raw_text_query.enginerefs and raw_text_query.specific:
         # if engines are calculated from query,
         # set categories by using that informations
-        query_engineref_list = parse_specific(raw_text_query)
+        query_engineref_list = raw_text_query.enginerefs
     else:
         # otherwise, using defined categories to
         # calculate which engines should be used
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_search.py b/tests/unit/test_search.py
index 08b41e062..72732032e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_search.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_search.py
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ TEST_ENGINES = [
 class SearchQueryTestCase(SearxTestCase):
 
     def test_repr(self):
-        s = SearchQuery('test', [EngineRef('bing', 'general', False)], 'all', 0, 1, '1', 5.0, 'g')
+        s = SearchQuery('test', [EngineRef('bing', 'general')], 'all', 0, 1, '1', 5.0, 'g')
         self.assertEqual(repr(s),
-                         "SearchQuery('test', [EngineRef('bing', 'general', False)], 'all', 0, 1, '1', 5.0, 'g')")  # noqa
+                         "SearchQuery('test', [EngineRef('bing', 'general')], 'all', 0, 1, '1', 5.0, 'g')")  # noqa
 
     def test_eq(self):
-        s = SearchQuery('test', [EngineRef('bing', 'general', False)], 'all', 0, 1, None, None, None)
-        t = SearchQuery('test', [EngineRef('google', 'general', False)], 'all', 0, 1, None, None, None)
+        s = SearchQuery('test', [EngineRef('bing', 'general')], 'all', 0, 1, None, None, None)
+        t = SearchQuery('test', [EngineRef('google', 'general')], 'all', 0, 1, None, None, None)
         self.assertEqual(s, s)
         self.assertNotEqual(s, t)
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_standalone_searx.py b/tests/unit/test_standalone_searx.py
index d16bfe809..6cc230e6c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_standalone_searx.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_standalone_searx.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class StandaloneSearx(SearxTestCase):
         args = sas.parse_argument(['rain', ])
         search_q = sas.get_search_query(args)
         self.assertTrue(search_q)
-        self.assertEqual(search_q, SearchQuery('rain', [EngineRef('engine1', 'general', False)],
+        self.assertEqual(search_q, SearchQuery('rain', [EngineRef('engine1', 'general')],
                          'all', 0, 1, None, None, None))
 
     def test_no_parsed_url(self):