diff --git a/blenderkit/search.py b/blenderkit/search.py
index 36e4e1727a1553285f85b0d8917bfca0e9101533..125b72662c48067c1670afd9f33be35ecc0df381 100644
--- a/blenderkit/search.py
+++ b/blenderkit/search.py
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ def search_timer():
             if first_search_parsing:
                 first_search_parsing = False
                 all_notifications_count = comments_utils.count_all_notifications()
-                comments_utils.get_notifications_thread(api_key, all_count=all_notifications_count)
+                comments_utils.get_notifications_thread(preferences.api_key, all_count=all_notifications_count)
                 if utils.experimental_enabled() and not bpy.app.timers.is_registered(
                         refresh_notifications_timer) and not bpy.app.background:
                     bpy.app.timers.register(refresh_notifications_timer, persistent=True, first_interval=5)