diff --git a/macos/Sources/Ghostty/SurfaceView_AppKit.swift b/macos/Sources/Ghostty/SurfaceView_AppKit.swift
index f431fdf6d..e2feb79c4 100644
--- a/macos/Sources/Ghostty/SurfaceView_AppKit.swift
+++ b/macos/Sources/Ghostty/SurfaceView_AppKit.swift
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ extension Ghostty {
                         let action = "search:\(needle)"
                         ghostty_surface_binding_action(surface, action, UInt(action.count))
                     }
-                } else {
+                } else if oldValue != nil {
                     searchNeedleCancellable = nil
                     guard let surface = self.surface else { return }
                     let action = "search:"