diff --git a/lib/ace/search.js b/lib/ace/search.js
index e6a6f922..e30f3aad 100644
--- a/lib/ace/search.js
+++ b/lib/ace/search.js
@@ -116,11 +116,12 @@ Search.SELECTION = 2;
         if (!this.$options.needle)
             return null;
 
-        if (this.$options.backwards) {
-            var iterator = this.$backwardMatchIterator(session);
-        } else {
-            iterator = this.$forwardMatchIterator(session);
-        }
+        var iterator = this.$options.backwards
+            ? this.$backwardMatchIterator(session)
+            : this.$forwardMatchIterator(session);
+            
+        if (!iterator)
+            return false;
 
         var firstRange = null;
         iterator.forEach(function(range) {
@@ -143,11 +144,12 @@ Search.SELECTION = 2;
         if (!options.needle)
             return [];
 
-        if (options.backwards) {
-            var iterator = this.$backwardMatchIterator(session);
-        } else {
-            iterator = this.$forwardMatchIterator(session);
-        }
+        var iterator = options.backwards
+            ? this.$backwardMatchIterator(session)
+            : this.$forwardMatchIterator(session);
+            
+        if (!iterator)
+            return false;
 
         var ignoreCursor = !options.start && options.wrap && options.scope == Search.ALL;
         if (ignoreCursor)
@@ -178,6 +180,9 @@ Search.SELECTION = 2;
     **/ 
     this.replace = function(input, replacement) {
         var re = this.$assembleRegExp();
+        if (!re)
+            return;
+        
         var match = re.exec(input);
         if (match && match[0].length == input.length) {
             if (this.$options.regExp) {
@@ -199,6 +204,9 @@ Search.SELECTION = 2;
     **/ 
     this.$forwardMatchIterator = function(session) {
         var re = this.$assembleRegExp();
+        if (!re)
+            return false;
+        
         var self = this;
 
         return {
@@ -240,6 +248,9 @@ Search.SELECTION = 2;
     **/ 
     this.$backwardMatchIterator = function(session) {
         var re = this.$assembleRegExp();
+        if (!re)
+            return false;
+        
         var self = this;
 
         return {
@@ -293,7 +304,13 @@ Search.SELECTION = 2;
             modifier += "i";
         }
 
-        var re = new RegExp(needle, modifier);
+        try {
+            var re = new RegExp(needle, modifier);
+        }
+        catch(e) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        
         return re;
     };