diff --git a/web/src/header.ts b/web/src/header.ts
index c18d54b0..fa16e450 100644
--- a/web/src/header.ts
+++ b/web/src/header.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 import { Alpine } from "./alpine";
+// Side-effect import: registers the headerSearch Alpine component that
+// owns the header dropdown's client-local state (open/close/keyboard).
+// Without it the bundler tree-shakes the module away and the search
+// input silently stops opening the dropdown.
+import "./search";
 import {
   initializeTheme,
   changeTheme,