diff --git a/addons/im_livechat/static/src/composer/suggestion_service_patch.js b/addons/im_livechat/static/src/composer/suggestion_service_patch.js
index e19ca9f86fc..4941fe26560 100644
--- a/addons/im_livechat/static/src/composer/suggestion_service_patch.js
+++ b/addons/im_livechat/static/src/composer/suggestion_service_patch.js
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ patch(SuggestionService.prototype, "im_livechat", {
                 };
             });
         const sortFunc = (c1, c2) => {
-            const cleanedName1 = cleanTerm(c1.name ?? "");
-            const cleanedName2 = cleanTerm(c2.name ?? "");
+            const cleanedName1 = cleanTerm(c1.name);
+            const cleanedName2 = cleanTerm(c2.name);
             if (
                 cleanedName1.startsWith(cleanedSearchTerm) &&
                 !cleanedName2.startsWith(cleanedSearchTerm)
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/partner_compare.js b/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/partner_compare.js
index b192b92fdf3..cccaaa2feef 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/partner_compare.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/partner_compare.js
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ partnerCompareRegistry.add(
 partnerCompareRegistry.add(
     "mail.name",
     (p1, p2, { searchTerm }) => {
-        const cleanedName1 = cleanTerm(p1.name ?? "");
-        const cleanedName2 = cleanTerm(p2.name ?? "");
+        const cleanedName1 = cleanTerm(p1.name);
+        const cleanedName2 = cleanTerm(p2.name);
         if (cleanedName1.startsWith(searchTerm) && !cleanedName2.startsWith(searchTerm)) {
             return -1;
         }
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ partnerCompareRegistry.add(
 partnerCompareRegistry.add(
     "mail.email",
     (p1, p2, { searchTerm }) => {
-        const cleanedEmail1 = cleanTerm(p1.email ?? "");
-        const cleanedEmail2 = cleanTerm(p2.email ?? "");
+        const cleanedEmail1 = cleanTerm(p1.email);
+        const cleanedEmail2 = cleanTerm(p2.email);
         if (cleanedEmail1.startsWith(searchTerm) && !cleanedEmail1.startsWith(searchTerm)) {
             return -1;
         }
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/suggestion_service.js b/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/suggestion_service.js
index f9ccda4ef3c..7d923c3ae45 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/suggestion_service.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/suggestion_service.js
@@ -218,8 +218,8 @@ export class SuggestionService {
             if (!c1.hasSelfAsMember && c2.hasSelfAsMember) {
                 return 1;
             }
-            const cleanedDisplayName1 = cleanTerm(c1.displayName ?? "");
-            const cleanedDisplayName2 = cleanTerm(c2.displayName ?? "");
+            const cleanedDisplayName1 = cleanTerm(c1.displayName);
+            const cleanedDisplayName2 = cleanTerm(c2.displayName);
             if (
                 cleanedDisplayName1.startsWith(cleanedSearchTerm) &&
                 !cleanedDisplayName2.startsWith(cleanedSearchTerm)
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/discuss/core/common/suggestion_service_patch.js b/addons/mail/static/src/discuss/core/common/suggestion_service_patch.js
index c51123a6b02..f1f9068eaf3 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/discuss/core/common/suggestion_service_patch.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/discuss/core/common/suggestion_service_patch.js
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ patch(SuggestionService.prototype, "discuss/core/common", {
             if (!c1.channel_types && c2.channel_types) {
                 return 1;
             }
-            const cleanedName1 = cleanTerm(c1.name || "");
-            const cleanedName2 = cleanTerm(c2.name || "");
+            const cleanedName1 = cleanTerm(c1.name);
+            const cleanedName2 = cleanTerm(c2.name);
             if (
                 cleanedName1.startsWith(cleanedSearchTerm) &&
                 !cleanedName2.startsWith(cleanedSearchTerm)
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/utils/common/format.js b/addons/mail/static/src/utils/common/format.js
index 6d7479a24e4..93d458e13c0 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/utils/common/format.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/utils/common/format.js
@@ -242,5 +242,5 @@ export function convertBrToLineBreak(str) {
 }
 
 export function cleanTerm(term) {
-    return unaccent(term.toLowerCase());
+    return unaccent((typeof term === "string" ? term : "").toLowerCase());
 }