diff --git a/pkg/search/query.go b/pkg/search/query.go
index 0419e359a..c6ba15019 100644
--- a/pkg/search/query.go
+++ b/pkg/search/query.go
@@ -16,7 +16,20 @@ const (
 )
 
 type Query struct {
-	Keywords   []string
+	// Keywords holds the list of keywords to search for. These keywords are
+	// treated as individual components of a search query, and will get quoted
+	// as needed. This is useful when the input can be supplied as a list of
+	// search keywords.
+	//
+	// This field is mutually exclusive with KeywordsVerbatim.
+	Keywords []string
+	// KeywordsVerbatim holds the search keywords as a single string, and will
+	// be treated as is (e.g. no additional quoting). This is useful when the
+	// input is meant to be taken verbatim from the user.
+	//
+	// This field is mutually exclusive with Keywords.
+	KeywordsVerbatim string
+
 	Kind       string
 	Limit      int
 	Order      string
@@ -103,7 +116,12 @@ type Qualifiers struct {
 // issues, and it's called advanced issue search.
 func (q Query) StandardSearchString() string {
 	qualifiers := formatQualifiers(q.Qualifiers, nil)
-	keywords := formatKeywords(q.Keywords)
+	var keywords []string
+	if q.KeywordsVerbatim != "" {
+		keywords = []string{q.KeywordsVerbatim}
+	} else if ks := formatKeywords(q.Keywords); len(ks) > 0 {
+		keywords = ks
+	}
 	all := append(keywords, qualifiers...)
 	return strings.TrimSpace(strings.Join(all, " "))
 }
@@ -124,10 +142,20 @@ func (q Query) StandardSearchString() string {
 //
 // The advanced syntax is documented at https://github.blog/changelog/2025-03-06-github-issues-projects-api-support-for-issues-advanced-search-and-more
 func (q Query) AdvancedIssueSearchString() string {
-	qualifiers := formatQualifiers(q.Qualifiers, formatAdvancedIssueSearch)
-	keywords := formatKeywords(q.Keywords)
-	all := append(keywords, qualifiers...)
-	return strings.TrimSpace(strings.Join(all, " "))
+	qualifiers := strings.Join(formatQualifiers(q.Qualifiers, formatAdvancedIssueSearch), " ")
+	keywords := q.KeywordsVerbatim
+	if keywords == "" {
+		keywords = strings.Join(formatKeywords(q.Keywords), " ")
+	}
+
+	if qualifiers != "" && keywords != "" {
+		// We should surround keywords with brackets to avoid leaking of any operators, especially "OR"s.
+		return fmt.Sprintf("( %s ) %s", keywords, qualifiers)
+	}
+	if qualifiers == "" {
+		return keywords
+	}
+	return qualifiers
 }
 
 func formatAdvancedIssueSearch(qualifier string, vs []string) (s []string, applicable bool) {