diff --git a/example/ansi-viewer/index.js b/example/ansi-viewer/index.js
index 86e1099..5d6ad06 100644
--- a/example/ansi-viewer/index.js
+++ b/example/ansi-viewer/index.js
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ var list = blessed.list({
   search: function(callback) {
     prompt.input('Search:', '', function(err, value) {
       if (err) return;
-      return callback(value);
+      return callback(null, value);
     });
   }
 });
diff --git a/lib/widget.js b/lib/widget.js
index 398de54..1f102f9 100644
--- a/lib/widget.js
+++ b/lib/widget.js
@@ -5133,8 +5133,12 @@ function List(options) {
         if (typeof self.options.search !== 'function') {
           return;
         }
-        return self.options.search(function(value) {
-          if (!value) return self.screen.render();
+        return self.options.search(function(err, value) {
+          if (typeof err === 'string' || (err && err.test)) {
+            value = err;
+            err = null;
+          }
+          if (err || !value) return self.screen.render();
           self.select(self.fuzzyFind(value, key.ch === '?'));
           self.screen.render();
         });