diff --git a/src/calibre/library/server/base.py b/src/calibre/library/server/base.py
index bdaee1c42d..ad1cd5b13a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/server/base.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/server/base.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def __init__(self, db, opts, embedded=False, show_tracebacks=True):
 
     def set_search_restriction(self, restriction):
         if restriction:
-            self.search_restriction = 'search:'+restriction
+            self.search_restriction = 'search:"%s"'%restriction
         else:
             self.search_restriction = ''