diff --git a/lib/search.rb b/lib/search.rb
index e4572703a76..40f80a245c4 100644
--- a/lib/search.rb
+++ b/lib/search.rb
@@ -374,6 +374,8 @@ class Search
     exact = true
 
     slug = match.to_s.split(":")
+    next if slug.empty?
+
     if slug[1]
       # sub category
       parent_category_id = Category.where(slug: slug[0].downcase, parent_category_id: nil).pluck(:id).first
diff --git a/spec/components/search_spec.rb b/spec/components/search_spec.rb
index 273be47c31a..e293a87fd2e 100644
--- a/spec/components/search_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/components/search_spec.rb
@@ -837,6 +837,9 @@ describe Search do
 
       results = Search.new('#777').execute
       expect(results.posts.length).to eq(0)
+
+      results = Search.new('xxx #:').execute
+      expect(results.posts.length).to eq(0)
     end
 
     context 'tags' do