diff --git a/addons/addon-search/src/SearchAddon.ts b/addons/addon-search/src/SearchAddon.ts
index 1f14ddc22..3aaae4ee1 100644
--- a/addons/addon-search/src/SearchAddon.ts
+++ b/addons/addon-search/src/SearchAddon.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ export class SearchAddon extends Disposable implements ITerminalAddon, ISearchAp
   constructor(options?: Partial<ISearchAddonOptions>) {
     super();
 
-    this._highlightLimit = options?.highlightLimit ?? Constants.DEFAULT_HIGHLIGHT_LIMIT;
+    const limit = options?.highlightLimit ?? Constants.DEFAULT_HIGHLIGHT_LIMIT;
+    this._highlightLimit = Number.isFinite(limit) && limit > 0 ? Math.floor(limit) : Constants.DEFAULT_HIGHLIGHT_LIMIT;
   }
 
   public activate(terminal: Terminal): void {