diff --git a/gtk/gtksearchenginetracker3.c b/gtk/gtksearchenginetracker3.c
index 82173eb64c..b94817d63d 100644
--- a/gtk/gtksearchenginetracker3.c
+++ b/gtk/gtksearchenginetracker3.c
@@ -284,11 +284,15 @@ gtk_search_engine_tracker3_start (GtkSearchEngine *engine)
       return;
     }
 
-  tracker->query_pending = TRUE;
   search_text = gtk_query_get_text (tracker->query);
   location = gtk_query_get_location (tracker->query);
   recursive = _gtk_search_engine_get_recursive (engine);
 
+  if (strlen (search_text) <= 1)
+    return;
+
+  tracker->query_pending = TRUE;
+
   if (location)
     {
       gchar *location_uri = g_file_get_uri (location);