diff --git a/src/utils/search.js b/src/utils/search.js
index 92afb03..82fbf19 100644
--- a/src/utils/search.js
+++ b/src/utils/search.js
@@ -97,11 +97,8 @@ export function apifyPreprintQs(uiQs = '', bookmark) {
 
   if (ui.has('q')) {
     const q = ui.get('q');
-    const splt = q.split(/(\s+)/);
 
-    const ored = [
-      `name:${splt.length > 1 && escapeLucene(q) === q ? JSON.stringify(q) : q}` // we auto quote multiple terms if they do not contain lucene operators
-    ];
+    const ored = [`name:"${escapeLucene(q)}"`];
 
     const doiMatched = q.match(doiRegex());
     if (doiMatched) {
diff --git a/test/test-search-utils.js b/test/test-search-utils.js
index 8bb5bfb..8476f52 100644
--- a/test/test-search-utils.js
+++ b/test/test-search-utils.js
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ describe('search utils', () => {
       const p = querystring.parse(apifyPreprintQs(ui).substring(1));
       assert.equal(
         p.q,
-        'name:text AND hasReviews:true AND (subjectName:"influenza" OR subjectName:"zika")'
+        'name:"text" AND hasReviews:true AND (subjectName:"influenza" OR subjectName:"zika")'
       );
     });