diff --git a/app/views/editor/level/thangs_tab_view.coffee b/app/views/editor/level/thangs_tab_view.coffee
index b675fd3bc..ef325bb82 100644
--- a/app/views/editor/level/thangs_tab_view.coffee
+++ b/app/views/editor/level/thangs_tab_view.coffee
@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ module.exports = class ThangsTabView extends View
 #      @thangsTreema.deselectAll()
 
   selectAddThang: (e) =>
+    return if $(e.target).closest('#thang-search').length # Ignore if you're trying to search thangs
     return unless e? and $(e.target).closest('#editor-level-thangs-tab-view').length or key.isPressed('esc')
     if e then target = $(e.target) else target = @$el.find('.add-thangs-palette')  # pretend to click on background if no event
     return true if target.attr('id') is 'surface'