diff --git a/services/search/api.py b/services/search/api.py
index 44afe0fe4..54636c562 100644
--- a/services/search/api.py
+++ b/services/search/api.py
@@ -242,9 +242,21 @@ def build_search_query(query: str):
         and_operands = re.split(r"[\s,&]+", or_operand)
         expression = ""
         for and_operand in and_operands:
+            if not and_operand.strip():
+                # Skip empty or whitespace-only operands
+                continue
             if re.fullmatch(r"'+", and_operand):
                 # Skip any operands that are just repeating single-quotes
                 continue
+            # Skip operands that start with a single quote (likely user error or
+            # malicious input). This prevents tsquery syntax errors like "'r:*" while
+            # allowing valid embedded quotes like "b'c".
+            if (
+                and_operand.startswith("'")
+                and len(and_operand) > 1
+                and and_operand[1] != "'"
+            ):
+                continue
             if expression:
                 expression += f" & {and_operand}:*"
             else:
diff --git a/services/search/tests/test_api.py b/services/search/tests/test_api.py
index ff3c7efa2..abbe965a8 100644
--- a/services/search/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/services/search/tests/test_api.py
@@ -262,6 +262,20 @@ def test_search_with_vertical_bar_in_query(api_client, units):
         ("a, &&& , & b || || |||| |c,,,, d", "a:* & b:* | c:* & d:*"),
         # Expression with repeating single-quotes
         ("','','''',a,b'c,d''e,f'''g,','','''", "a:* & b'c:* & d''e:* & f'''g:*"),
+        # Empty operands
+        ("   ", ""),
+        ("  |  ", ""),
+        ("  &  ", ""),
+        (",", ""),
+        ("  ,  ", ""),
+        ("a |   | b", "a:* | b:*"),
+        ("a &   & b", "a:* & b:*"),
+        ("a,   ,b", "a:* & b:*"),
+        ("   | a", "a:*"),
+        ("a |   ", "a:*"),
+        # Unbalanced leading single quote
+        ("'r", ""),
+        ("'museo palloiluhalli", "palloiluhalli:*"),
     ],
 )
 def test_build_search_query(query, expected):