diff --git a/src/mcts/search.cc b/src/mcts/search.cc
index 0ab96fc29e..6400df1d64 100644
--- a/src/mcts/search.cc
+++ b/src/mcts/search.cc
@@ -579,7 +579,8 @@ void Search::RunBlocking(size_t threads) {
 }
 
 bool Search::IsSearchActive() const {
-  return !stop_.load(std::memory_order_acquire);
+  Mutex::Lock lock(counters_mutex_);
+  return !bestmove_is_sent_;
 }
 
 void Search::WatchdogThread() {