diff --git a/combo/apps/search/templates/combo/search-cell.html b/combo/apps/search/templates/combo/search-cell.html
index f10cefd0..dcb559f8 100644
--- a/combo/apps/search/templates/combo/search-cell.html
+++ b/combo/apps/search/templates/combo/search-cell.html
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 <script>
 $(function() {
   var timeout;
+  var last_search = null;
   var $form = $('#combo-search-form-{{ cell.pk }}');
   var $input = $('#combo-search-input-{{ cell.pk }}');
   {% for search_service in cell.search_services %}
@@ -22,12 +23,15 @@ $(function() {
   {% endfor %}
 
   function update() {
+    var new_search = $input.val();
+    if (new_search == last_search) return;
+    last_search = new_search;
     $form.addClass('searching');
     var count = {{ cell.search_services|length }};
     {% for search_service in cell.search_services %}
     if (xhr_{{ forloop.counter }}) xhr_{{ forloop.counter }}.abort();
     xhr_{{ forloop.counter }} = $.get(url_{{ forloop.counter }},
-      {'q': $input.val()},
+      {'q': new_search},
       function (response) {
         xhr_{{ forloop.counter }} = null;
         $results_{{ forloop.counter }}.html(response);
@@ -49,6 +53,7 @@ $(function() {
     update(this);
   });
   $form.on('submit', function() {
+    last_search = null;  // make explicit submit search in all cases
     clearTimeout(timeout);
     update();
     return false;