diff --git a/server/szurubooru/search/search_executor.py b/server/szurubooru/search/search_executor.py
index fc5d9c0a..fad2bed7 100644
--- a/server/szurubooru/search/search_executor.py
+++ b/server/szurubooru/search/search_executor.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class SearchExecutor(object):
                 token = token[1:]
                 negated = not negated
 
-            if ':' in token:
+            if ':' in token and token[0] != ':':
                 key, value = token.split(':', 2)
                 query = self._handle_key_value(query, key, value, negated)
             else:
diff --git a/server/szurubooru/tests/search/test_tag_search_config.py b/server/szurubooru/tests/search/test_tag_search_config.py
index 3b234337..e1d17866 100644
--- a/server/szurubooru/tests/search/test_tag_search_config.py
+++ b/server/szurubooru/tests/search/test_tag_search_config.py
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ def test_filter_anonymous(verify_unpaged, tag_factory, input, expected_tag_names
     db.session.add(tag_factory(names=['t2']))
     verify_unpaged(input, expected_tag_names)
 
+def test_filter_anonymous_starting_with_colon(verify_unpaged, tag_factory):
+    db.session.add(tag_factory(names=[':t']))
+    verify_unpaged(':t', [':t'])
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('input,expected_tag_names', [
     ('name:tag1', ['tag1']),
     ('name:tag2', ['tag2']),