diff --git a/modules/backend/widgets/Search.php b/modules/backend/widgets/Search.php
index 2f5749abf..8e554fb21 100644
--- a/modules/backend/widgets/Search.php
+++ b/modules/backend/widgets/Search.php
@@ -128,7 +128,14 @@ class Search extends WidgetBase
          * Trigger class event, merge results as viewable array
          */
         $params = func_get_args();
-        $result = $this->fireEvent('search.submit', [$params]);
+        try {
+            $result = $this->fireEvent('search.submit', [$params]);
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            // Remove the search term from the session if the search has failed.
+            $this->setActiveTerm('');
+            throw $e;
+        }
+
         if ($result && is_array($result)) {
             return call_user_func_array('array_merge', $result);
         }