diff --git a/addons/addon-search/src/SearchEngine.ts b/addons/addon-search/src/SearchEngine.ts
index 7e89c03a1..1760bc2bd 100644
--- a/addons/addon-search/src/SearchEngine.ts
+++ b/addons/addon-search/src/SearchEngine.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export class SearchEngine {
       this._terminal.clearSelection();
       return undefined;
     }
-    if (startCol > this._terminal.cols) {
+    if (startCol >= this._terminal.cols) {
       throw new Error(`Invalid col: ${startCol} to search in terminal of ${this._terminal.cols} cols`);
     }