diff --git a/archivebox/plugins_search/sonic/apps.py b/archivebox/plugins_search/sonic/apps.py
index c7342853..2f6d4562 100644
--- a/archivebox/plugins_search/sonic/apps.py
+++ b/archivebox/plugins_search/sonic/apps.py
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ class SonicConfig(BaseConfigSet):
 SONIC_CONFIG = SonicConfig()
 
 
-
 class SonicBinary(BaseBinary):
     name: BinName = SONIC_CONFIG.SONIC_BINARY
     binproviders_supported: List[InstanceOf[BinProvider]] = [brew, env]   # TODO: add cargo
@@ -121,7 +120,7 @@ class SonicSearchPlugin(BasePlugin):
 
     hooks: List[InstanceOf[BaseHook]] = [
         SONIC_CONFIG,
-        SONIC_BINARY,
+        *([SONIC_BINARY] if (SEARCH_BACKEND_CONFIG.SEARCH_BACKEND_ENGINE == 'sonic' or SONIC_LIB) else []),
         SONIC_SEARCH_BACKEND,
     ]
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 39a515dd..30ef2721 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "archivebox"
-version = "0.8.5rc34"
+version = "0.8.5rc36"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 description = "Self-hosted internet archiving solution."
 authors = [{name = "Nick Sweeting", email = "pyproject.toml@archivebox.io"}]
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 1c153f18..ab967743 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "archivebox"
-version = "0.8.5rc34"
+version = "0.8.5rc35"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "atomicwrites" },