diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/picker-modal/search/manager/picker-modal-search.manager.ts b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/picker-modal/search/manager/picker-modal-search.manager.ts
index bb5a39cfa4..42b47316fe 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/picker-modal/search/manager/picker-modal-search.manager.ts
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/picker-modal/search/manager/picker-modal-search.manager.ts
@@ -146,6 +146,16 @@ export class UmbPickerModalSearchManager<
 		return this.#query.getValue();
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Update the current search query.
+	 * @param {Partial<QueryType>} query
+	 * @memberof UmbPickerModalSearchManager
+	 */
+	public updateQuery(query: Partial<QueryType>) {
+		const mergedQuery = { ...this.getQuery(), ...query } as QueryType;
+		this.#query.setValue(mergedQuery);
+	}
+
 	async #initSearch() {
 		const providerAlias = this.#config?.providerAlias;
 		if (!providerAlias) throw new Error('No search provider alias provided');
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/picker-modal/search/picker-modal-search.element.ts b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/picker-modal/search/picker-modal-search.element.ts
index b939539504..5e31f1a340 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/picker-modal/search/picker-modal-search.element.ts
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/picker-modal/search/picker-modal-search.element.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export class UmbPickerModalSearchElement extends UmbLitElement {
 
 	#onInput(event: UUIInputEvent) {
 		const value = event.target.value as string;
-		this.#pickerModalContext?.search.setQuery({ query: value });
+		this.#pickerModalContext?.search.updateQuery({ query: value });
 		this.#pickerModalContext?.search.search();
 	}