diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/21.0.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/21.0.nix
index d1bcc1d718b9..3df5ad4ec2a5 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/21.0.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/21.0.nix
@@ -133,6 +133,10 @@ rec {
         xlibs.pixman yasm mesa sqlite file unzip pysqlite
       ];
 
+    patches = [
+      ./disable-reporter.patch # fixes "search box not working when built on xulrunner"
+    ];
+
     propagatedBuildInputs = [xulrunner];
 
     configureFlags =
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/disable-reporter.patch b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/disable-reporter.patch
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0a71a7210f2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/disable-reporter.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# from:
+# - https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-from-scratch-13/blfs-xulrunner-firefox-21-0-and-search-4175462532/
+# - http://www.mail-archive.com/blfs-support@linuxfromscratch.org/msg17359.html
+
+--- mozilla-release/browser/base/content/browser.js.orig	2013-05-11 16:19:21.000000000 -0300
++++ mozilla-release/browser/base/content/browser.js	2013-06-07 00:39:16.114862388 -0300
+@@ -3559,10 +3559,12 @@
+    */
+   recordSearchInHealthReport: function (engine, source) {
+ #ifdef MOZ_SERVICES_HEALTHREPORT
+-    let reporter = Cc["@mozilla.org/datareporting/service;1"]
++    /*let reporter = Cc["@mozilla.org/datareporting/service;1"]
+                      .getService()
+                      .wrappedJSObject
+                      .healthReporter;
++    */
++       return;
+ 
+     // This can happen if the FHR component of the data reporting service is
+     // disabled. This is controlled by a pref that most will never use.