diff --git a/server/api/documents.test.js b/server/api/documents.test.js
index 5a3a43dbd..09bb70dc1 100644
--- a/server/api/documents.test.js
+++ b/server/api/documents.test.js
@@ -984,6 +984,21 @@ describe("#documents.search", () => {
     expect(body.data.length).toEqual(0);
   });
 
+  it("should not error when search term is very long", async () => {
+    const { user } = await seed();
+    const res = await server.post("/api/documents.search", {
+      body: {
+        token: user.getJwtToken(),
+        query:
+          "much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much longer search term",
+      },
+    });
+    const body = await res.json();
+
+    expect(res.status).toEqual(200);
+    expect(body.data.length).toEqual(0);
+  });
+
   it("should return draft documents created by user if chosen", async () => {
     const { user } = await seed();
     const document = await buildDocument({
diff --git a/server/models/SearchQuery.js b/server/models/SearchQuery.js
index cd7258d35..0db084977 100644
--- a/server/models/SearchQuery.js
+++ b/server/models/SearchQuery.js
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ const SearchQuery = sequelize.define(
     },
     query: {
       type: DataTypes.STRING,
+      set(val) {
+        this.setDataValue("query", val.substring(0, 255));
+      },
       allowNull: false,
     },
     results: {