diff --git a/modules/completion/ivy/autoload/ivy.el b/modules/completion/ivy/autoload/ivy.el
index 4bbb9aa23..414b887b1 100644
--- a/modules/completion/ivy/autoload/ivy.el
+++ b/modules/completion/ivy/autoload/ivy.el
@@ -366,14 +366,14 @@ order.
                     (let ((query (buffer-substring-no-properties beg end)))
                       ;; Escape characters that are special to ivy searches
                       (replace-regexp-in-string "[! |]" (lambda (substr)
-                                                          (cond ((and (featurep! +fuzzy)
-                                                                      (string= substr " "))
+                                                          (cond ((and (string= substr " ")
+                                                                      (not (featurep! +fuzzy)))
                                                                  "  ")
                                                                 ((and (string= substr "|")
                                                                       (eq engine 'rg))
                                                                  "\\\\\\\\|")
                                                                 ((concat "\\\\" substr))))
-                                                (regexp-quote query))))))))
+                                                (rxt-quote-pcre query))))))))
          (prompt
           (format "%s%%s %s"
                   (symbol-name engine)
diff --git a/modules/config/default/autoload/default.el b/modules/config/default/autoload/default.el
index cbdabab59..dede7a180 100644
--- a/modules/config/default/autoload/default.el
+++ b/modules/config/default/autoload/default.el
@@ -270,7 +270,13 @@ If prefix ARG is set, prompt for a known project to search from."
   "Conduct a text search in the current project for symbol at point.
 If prefix ARG is set, prompt for a known project to search from."
   (interactive
-   (list current-prefix-arg (or (thing-at-point 'symbol t) "")))
+   (list current-prefix-arg
+         (or (and (use-region-p)
+                  (rxt-quote-pcre
+                   (buffer-substring-no-properties (region-beginning)
+                                                   (region-end))))
+             (rxt-quote-pcre (thing-at-point 'symbol t))
+             "")))
   (let ((default-directory
           (if arg
               (if-let* ((projects (projectile-relevant-known-projects)))
@@ -279,9 +285,9 @@ If prefix ARG is set, prompt for a known project to search from."
                 (user-error "There are no known projects"))
             default-directory)))
     (cond ((featurep! :completion ivy)
-           (+ivy/project-search nil (rxt-quote-pcre symbol)))
+           (+ivy/project-search nil symbol))
           ((featurep! :completion helm)
-           (+helm/project-search nil (rxt-quote-pcre symbol)))
+           (+helm/project-search nil symbol))
           ((rgrep (regexp-quote symbol))))))
 
 ;;;###autoload