diff --git a/server/api/documents.test.js b/server/api/documents.test.js
index 5a3a43db..09bb70dc 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 cd7258d3..0db08497 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: {