diff --git a/src/plugins/visualizations/public/wizard/new_vis_modal.tsx b/src/plugins/visualizations/public/wizard/new_vis_modal.tsx
index 00a2253ea3ee..c2428174e5aa 100644
--- a/src/plugins/visualizations/public/wizard/new_vis_modal.tsx
+++ b/src/plugins/visualizations/public/wizard/new_vis_modal.tsx
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ class NewVisModal extends React.Component<TypeSelectionProps, TypeSelectionState
     }
 
     params = [`type=${encodeURIComponent(visType.name)}`];
+    searchId = encodeURIComponent(searchId || '');
 
     if (searchType) {
       params.push(`${searchType === 'search' ? 'savedSearchId' : 'indexPattern'}=${searchId}`);