diff --git a/reme/steps/index/search.py b/reme/steps/index/search.py
index 9fee48a5..707359c4 100644
--- a/reme/steps/index/search.py
+++ b/reme/steps/index/search.py
@@ -158,9 +158,12 @@ class SearchStep(BaseStep):
         expand_links_enabled: bool = bool(self.kwargs.get("expand_links", True))
         max_links_per_direction: int = int(self.kwargs.get("max_links_per_direction", 10))
         tool_context_id: str = (self.context.get("tool_context_id", "") or "").strip()
-        strict_date_filter: bool = bool(
-            self.context.get("strict_date_filter") or self.kwargs.get("strict_date_filter", False),
-        )
+        # Injected value takes precedence over YAML kwargs; check existence
+        # (not truthiness) so an explicit False can disable a YAML-true flag.
+        _strict_date_filter = self.context.get("strict_date_filter")
+        if _strict_date_filter is None:
+            _strict_date_filter = self.kwargs.get("strict_date_filter", False)
+        strict_date_filter: bool = bool(_strict_date_filter)
 
         if not query:
             self.context.response.success = False
diff --git a/reme/steps/index/search_v2.py b/reme/steps/index/search_v2.py
index 0ea4b2ed..bdeb91e0 100644
--- a/reme/steps/index/search_v2.py
+++ b/reme/steps/index/search_v2.py
@@ -118,9 +118,12 @@ class SearchV2Step(_ToolContextDedupMixin, BaseStep):
         expand_links_enabled: bool = bool(self.kwargs.get("expand_links", True))
         max_links_per_direction: int = int(self.kwargs.get("max_links_per_direction", 10))
         tool_context_id: str = (self.context.get("tool_context_id", "") or "").strip()
-        strict_date_filter: bool = bool(
-            self.context.get("strict_date_filter") or self.kwargs.get("strict_date_filter", False),
-        )
+        # Injected value takes precedence over YAML kwargs; check existence
+        # (not truthiness) so an explicit False can disable a YAML-true flag.
+        _strict_date_filter = self.context.get("strict_date_filter")
+        if _strict_date_filter is None:
+            _strict_date_filter = self.kwargs.get("strict_date_filter", False)
+        strict_date_filter: bool = bool(_strict_date_filter)
 
         if not query:
             self.context.response.success = False
@@ -302,8 +305,7 @@ class SearchV2Step(_ToolContextDedupMixin, BaseStep):
                 response = await self.run_job("compressor", text=body, queries=queries)
             except Exception as exc:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
                 self.logger.warning(
-                    f"[{self.name}] session body compression raised path={path!r} "
-                    f"error={exc!r}; keeping original",
+                    f"[{self.name}] session body compression raised path={path!r} " f"error={exc!r}; keeping original",
                 )
                 return
             compressed = str(response.answer or "").strip()