diff --git a/strans.c b/strans.c
index ce4b52f..6135023 100644
--- a/strans.c
+++ b/strans.c
@@ -793,7 +793,9 @@ startsearch(int lang, Str *com)
 	sclear(&seed);
 	if(lang == LangHANJA && !search.lang && im.sel < 0){
 		impre(&im, &seed);
-		reachback(&seed, &back);
+		/* Nothing pending is no reading, and reaches into nothing. */
+		if(seed.n != 0)
+			reachback(&seed, &back);
 	}else
 		flush(com);
 	reset();
diff --git a/tests/engine_test.c b/tests/engine_test.c
index 30d8ec0..c9468dd 100644
--- a/tests/engine_test.c
+++ b/tests/engine_test.c
@@ -2005,6 +2005,22 @@ engine_hanja_reaches_back(struct ct *t)
 		CT_EQ_INT(t, 0, takeback);
 	}
 
+	/* Nothing pending is no reading, and reaches into nothing. */
+	surround = mkstr("민");
+	sclear(&im.pre);
+	sclear(&com);
+	CT_CHECK(t, keystroke('h', Mctrl, &com));
+	CT_EQ_INT(t, 0, search.back.n);
+	CT_EQ_INT(t, 0, im.nkouho);
+	if(typekeys(t, "als", &com)){
+		checkstr(t, "the reading typed is the whole query", "민",
+			&search.text);
+		CT_CHECK(t, keystroke(Kret, 0, &com));
+		checkstr(t, "the client's syllable is not converted", "民",
+			&com);
+		CT_EQ_INT(t, 0, takeback);
+	}
+
 	/* The frontend's own request carries the text and is told to take it. */
 	init();
 	im.l = getlang(LangKO);