Prevent WordPress redirecting to homepage with empty search

Prevent WordPress redirecting to homepage with empty search

/**
 * Stop Empty Search Requests redirecting to homepage
 */
 
 //$_GET is an array of variables sent from the search form
 //isset returns true if $_GET is not null
 //empty returns true is $_GET is null
 // function automatically populates the search $_GET request with an empty space
function jc_stop_search_redirect( $vars ) {
	if( isset( $_GET['s'] ) && empty( $_GET['s'] ) )
		$vars['s'] = " ";
	 return $vars;
}
add_filter( 'request', 'jc_stop_search_redirect' );