diff --git a/whelk-core/src/main/groovy/whelk/search2/parse/Lex.java b/whelk-core/src/main/groovy/whelk/search2/parse/Lex.java
index 8b7eee5192..d9ea32e5ff 100644
--- a/whelk-core/src/main/groovy/whelk/search2/parse/Lex.java
+++ b/whelk-core/src/main/groovy/whelk/search2/parse/Lex.java
@@ -161,9 +161,6 @@ else if (c == '\\') { // char escaping ...
 
             // These words (when not quoted) are keywords
             switch (symbolValue.toString()) {
-                case "and":
-                case "or":
-                case "not":
                 case "AND":
                 case "OR":
                 case "NOT":