diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 104db459061d..f4844170addc 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -1488,11 +1488,11 @@ fn search_impl(
     // Get the right side of the primary block cursor for forward search, or the
     // grapheme before the start of the selection for reverse search.
     let start = match direction {
-        Direction::Forward => text.char_to_byte(graphemes::next_grapheme_boundary(
+        Direction::Forward => text.char_to_byte(graphemes::ensure_grapheme_boundary_next(
             text,
             selection.primary().to(),
         )),
-        Direction::Backward => text.char_to_byte(graphemes::prev_grapheme_boundary(
+        Direction::Backward => text.char_to_byte(graphemes::ensure_grapheme_boundary_prev(
             text,
             selection.primary().from(),
         )),