diff --git a/static/styles/night_mode.scss b/static/styles/night_mode.scss
index ff7147b606..629bf00d8f 100644
--- a/static/styles/night_mode.scss
+++ b/static/styles/night_mode.scss
@@ -277,9 +277,9 @@ on a dark background, and don't change the dark labels dark either. */
     .clear_search_button:active,
     .clear_search_button[disabled]:hover,
     #user-groups .save-instructions,
-    #searchbox_legacy a.search_icon,
+    #searchbox_legacy .search_icon,
     #searchbox_legacy .search_button,
-    #searchbox a.search_icon,
+    #searchbox .search_icon,
     #searchbox .search_button,
     .close,
     #user_presences li:hover .user-list-arrow,
@@ -292,9 +292,9 @@ on a dark background, and don't change the dark labels dark either. */
 
     #message_edit_tooltip:hover,
     .clear_search_button:hover,
-    #searchbox_legacy a.search_icon:hover,
+    #searchbox_legacy .search_icon:hover,
     #searchbox_legacy .search_button:hover,
-    #searchbox a.search_icon:hover,
+    #searchbox .search_icon:hover,
     #searchbox .search_button:hover,
     .close:hover {
         color: hsl(0, 0%, 100%);
diff --git a/static/styles/zulip.scss b/static/styles/zulip.scss
index 1d2ab08376..dcdb8ac1ba 100644
--- a/static/styles/zulip.scss
+++ b/static/styles/zulip.scss
@@ -1712,7 +1712,7 @@ nav a .no-style {
         visibility: hidden;
     }
 
-    a.search_icon {
+    .search_icon {
         display: table;
         height: 100%;
         color: hsl(0, 0%, 80%);
@@ -1728,7 +1728,7 @@ nav a .no-style {
         }
     }
 
-    a.search_icon:hover {
+    .search_icon:hover {
         color: hsl(0, 0%, 0%);
         text-decoration: none;
     }
@@ -1827,7 +1827,7 @@ nav a .no-style {
         visibility: hidden;
     }
 
-    a.search_icon {
+    .search_icon {
         color: hsl(0, 0%, 80%);
         text-decoration: none;
         display: block;
@@ -1835,7 +1835,7 @@ nav a .no-style {
         height: 1px;
     }
 
-    a.search_icon:hover {
+    .search_icon:hover {
         color: hsl(0, 0%, 0%);
         text-decoration: none;
     }