diff --git a/wagtail/wagtailusers/templates/wagtailusers/groups/list.html b/wagtail/wagtailusers/templates/wagtailusers/groups/list.html
index 6cef404a1..0063104d2 100644
--- a/wagtail/wagtailusers/templates/wagtailusers/groups/list.html
+++ b/wagtail/wagtailusers/templates/wagtailusers/groups/list.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
         </tr>
     </thead>
     <tbody>
-        {% for group in page_obj %}
+        {% for group in groups %}
             <tr>
                 <td class="title">
                     <h2>
diff --git a/wagtail/wagtailusers/views/groups.py b/wagtail/wagtailusers/views/groups.py
index 1f4d5701a..f400c5b79 100644
--- a/wagtail/wagtailusers/views/groups.py
+++ b/wagtail/wagtailusers/views/groups.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class SearchableListMixin(object):
     search_fields = []
 
     def get_search_form(self):
-        if 'q' in self.request.GET:
+        if self.request.GET.get('q'):
             return SearchForm(self.request.GET, placeholder=self.search_box_placeholder)
         else:
             return SearchForm(placeholder=self.search_box_placeholder)
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class SearchableListMixin(object):
     def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
         if 'search_form' not in kwargs:
             kwargs['search_form'] = self.get_search_form()
-            kwargs['is_searching'] = 'q' in self.request.GET
+            kwargs['is_searching'] = bool(self.request.GET.get('q'))
 
         return super(SearchableListMixin, self).get_context_data(**kwargs)