diff --git a/lib/readline/search.c b/lib/readline/search.c
--- a/lib/readline/search.c
+++ b/lib/readline/search.c
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ noninc_search (dir, pchar)
     {
       c = _rl_search_getchar (cxt);
 
-      if (c == 0)
+      if (c <= 0)
 	break;
 
       r = _rl_nsearch_dispatch (cxt, c);