diff --git a/gui/shipBrowser.py b/gui/shipBrowser.py
index 2c7f6b6de..448a1f161 100644
--- a/gui/shipBrowser.py
+++ b/gui/shipBrowser.py
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ class HeaderPane (wx.Panel):
         if self.inPopup:
             return
         search = self.search.GetValue()
-        if len(search) < 3:
+        if len(search) < 3 and len(search) > 0:
             if self.inSearch == True:
                 self.inSearch = False
                 if len(self.shipBrowser.browseHist) > 0: