diff --git a/lib/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
index 1edded415..0e5e2d943 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ def search(query, resolve \\ false) do
         select_merge: %{
           search_distance:
             fragment(
-              "? <-> (? || ?)",
+              "? <-> (? || coalesce(?, ''))",
               ^query,
               u.nickname,
               u.name