diff --git a/app/models/tag.rb b/app/models/tag.rb
index a2d6078f4bb..c7f0af86df1 100644
--- a/app/models/tag.rb
+++ b/app/models/tag.rb
@@ -76,9 +76,11 @@ class Tag < ApplicationRecord
     end
 
     def search_for(term, limit = 5, offset = 0)
-      pattern = sanitize_sql_like(normalize(term.strip)) + '%'
+      normalized_term = normalize(term.strip).mb_chars.downcase.to_s
+      pattern         = sanitize_sql_like(normalized_term) + '%'
 
-      Tag.where(arel_table[:name].lower.matches(pattern.mb_chars.downcase.to_s))
+      Tag.where(arel_table[:name].lower.matches(pattern))
+         .where(arel_table[:score].gt(0).or(arel_table[:name].lower.eq(normalized_term)))
          .order(Arel.sql('length(name) ASC, score DESC, name ASC'))
          .limit(limit)
          .offset(offset)
diff --git a/spec/models/tag_spec.rb b/spec/models/tag_spec.rb
index 5f07fd618e5..9d700849bb8 100644
--- a/spec/models/tag_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/tag_spec.rb
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ RSpec.describe Tag, type: :model do
     end
 
     it 'finds the exact matching tag as the first item' do
-      similar_tag = Fabricate(:tag, name: "matchlater")
-      tag = Fabricate(:tag, name: "match")
+      similar_tag = Fabricate(:tag, name: "matchlater", score: 1)
+      tag = Fabricate(:tag, name: "match", score: 1)
 
       results = Tag.search_for("match")