diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/options.py b/django/contrib/admin/options.py
index 1788a712d8..46f6e0445f 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/options.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/options.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class ModelAdmin(object):
     list_display = ('__str__',)
     list_display_links = ()
     list_filter = ()
+    search_fields = ()
     date_hierarchy = None
     save_as = False
 
@@ -274,7 +275,7 @@ class ModelAdmin(object):
             raise PermissionDenied
         try:
             cl = ChangeList(request, self.model, self.list_display, self.list_display_links, self.list_filter,
-                self.date_hierarchy)
+                self.date_hierarchy, self.search_fields)
         except IncorrectLookupParameters:
             # Wacky lookup parameters were given, so redirect to the main
             # changelist page, without parameters, and pass an 'invalid=1'
diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/templates/admin/search_form.html b/django/contrib/admin/templates/admin/search_form.html
index 445cca3089..b232aa917d 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/templates/admin/search_form.html
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/templates/admin/search_form.html
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {% load adminmedia %}
 {% load i18n %}
-{% if cl.lookup_opts.admin.search_fields %}
+{% if cl.search_fields %}
 <div id="toolbar"><form id="changelist-search" action="" method="get">
 <div><!-- DIV needed for valid HTML -->
 <label for="searchbar"><img src="{% admin_media_prefix %}img/admin/icon_searchbox.png" alt="Search" /></label>
diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py b/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py
index 2a4b58d1ce..e247cc4288 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ def _get_deleted_objects(deleted_objects, perms_needed, user, obj, opts, current
                 perms_needed.add(related.opts.verbose_name)
 
 class ChangeList(object):
-    def __init__(self, request, model, list_display, list_display_links, list_filter, date_hierarchy):
+    def __init__(self, request, model, list_display, list_display_links, list_filter, date_hierarchy, search_fields):
         self.model = model
         self.opts = model._meta
         self.lookup_opts = self.opts
@@ -301,6 +301,7 @@ class ChangeList(object):
         self.list_display_links = list_display_links
         self.list_filter = list_filter
         self.date_hierarchy = date_hierarchy
+        self.search_fields = search_fields
 
         # Get search parameters from the query string.
         try:
@@ -474,9 +475,9 @@ class ChangeList(object):
             else:
                 return "%s__icontains" % field_name
 
-        if self.lookup_opts.admin.search_fields and self.query:
+        if self.search_fields and self.query:
             for bit in self.query.split():
-                or_queries = [models.Q(**{construct_search(field_name): bit}) for field_name in self.lookup_opts.admin.search_fields]
+                or_queries = [models.Q(**{construct_search(field_name): bit}) for field_name in self.search_fields]
                 other_qs = QuerySet(self.model)
                 if qs._select_related:
                     other_qs = other_qs.select_related()
diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index a9c1f96e0a..3640bd961b 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class Model(object):
             # of ModelAdmin.
             cls._meta.ModelAdmin = type('ModelAdmin', (value, ModelAdmin), {})
             # This AdminOptions stuff is legacy and will eventually be removed.
-            value = AdminOptions(**dict([(k, v) for k, v in value.__dict__.items() if not k.startswith('_') and k not in ('list_display', 'list_display_links', 'list_filter', 'date_hierarchy', 'save_as')]))
+            value = AdminOptions(**dict([(k, v) for k, v in value.__dict__.items() if not k.startswith('_') and k not in ('list_display', 'list_display_links', 'list_filter', 'date_hierarchy', 'save_as', 'search_fields')]))
             value.contribute_to_class(cls, name)
         elif hasattr(value, 'contribute_to_class'):
             value.contribute_to_class(cls, name)
diff --git a/django/db/models/options.py b/django/db/models/options.py
index a5d2472b8e..b8da8916a3 100644
--- a/django/db/models/options.py
+++ b/django/db/models/options.py
@@ -200,12 +200,11 @@ class Options(object):
 
 class AdminOptions(object):
     def __init__(self, fields=None, js=None,
-        ordering=None, search_fields=None,
+        ordering=None,
         save_on_top=False, list_select_related=False, manager=None, list_per_page=100):
         self.fields = fields
         self.js = js or []
         self.ordering = ordering
-        self.search_fields = search_fields or []
         self.save_on_top = save_on_top
         self.list_select_related = list_select_related
         self.list_per_page = list_per_page