diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/search.py b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
index 13695a7d4..95845db64 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class Search(View):
 
 def api_book_search(request):
     """Return books via API response"""
-    query = request.GET.get("q")
+    query = request.GET.get("q").strip()
     query = isbn_check_and_format(query)
     min_confidence = request.GET.get("min_confidence", 0)
     # only return local book results via json so we don't cascade
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def api_book_search(request):
 
 def book_search(request):
     """the real business is elsewhere"""
-    query = request.GET.get("q")
+    query = request.GET.get("q").strip()
     # check if query is isbn
     query = isbn_check_and_format(query)
     min_confidence = request.GET.get("min_confidence", 0)
@@ -123,8 +123,7 @@ def author_search(request):
 def user_search(request):
     """user search: search for a user"""
     viewer = request.user
-    query = request.GET.get("q")
-    query = query.strip()
+    query = request.GET.get("q").strip()
     data = {"type": "user", "query": query}
 
     # use webfinger for mastodon style account@domain.com username to load the user if
@@ -162,7 +161,7 @@ def user_search(request):
 
 def list_search(request):
     """any relevent lists?"""
-    query = request.GET.get("q")
+    query = request.GET.get("q").strip()
     data = {"query": query, "type": "list"}
     results = (
         models.List.privacy_filter(