diff --git a/ui/pages/settings/settings-search/settings-search.js b/ui/pages/settings/settings-search/settings-search.js
index 545068aa566b..45cd6c079b25 100644
--- a/ui/pages/settings/settings-search/settings-search.js
+++ b/ui/pages/settings/settings-search/settings-search.js
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export default function SettingsSearch({
   const handleSearch = (_searchQuery) => {
     const sanitizedSearchQuery = _searchQuery
       .replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9\s&_]/gu, '')
-      .trim();
+      .trimStart();
     setSearchQuery(sanitizedSearchQuery);
     if (sanitizedSearchQuery === '') {
       setSearchIconColor('var(--color-icon-muted)');