diff --git a/datasette/app.py b/datasette/app.py
index 2b82c70f..82ea26fe 100644
--- a/datasette/app.py
+++ b/datasette/app.py
@@ -528,12 +528,14 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
             fts_table = fts_rows[0][0]
 
         search = special_args.get('_search')
+        search_description = None
         if search and fts_table:
             where_clauses.append(
                 'rowid in (select rowid from [{fts_table}] where [{fts_table}] match :search)'.format(
                     fts_table=fts_table
                 )
             )
+            search_description = 'search matches "{}"'.format(search)
             params['search'] = search
 
         next = special_args.get('_next')
@@ -642,10 +644,13 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
                     # Almost certainly hit the timeout
                     pass
 
+        # human_filter_description combines filters AND search, if provided
+        human_description = filters.human_description(extra=search_description)
+
         async def extra_template():
             return {
                 'database_hash': hash,
-                'human_filter_description': filters.human_description(),
+                'human_filter_description': human_description,
                 'supports_search': bool(fts_table),
                 'search': search or '',
                 'use_rowid': use_rowid,
diff --git a/datasette/static/app.css b/datasette/static/app.css
index d3625b96..13ea503f 100644
--- a/datasette/static/app.css
+++ b/datasette/static/app.css
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 body {
     margin: 0 1em;
     font-family: "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;
@@ -107,11 +106,12 @@ form label {
 form input[type=text],
 form input[type=search] {
     border: 1px solid #ccc;
+    border-radius: 3px;
     width: 60%;
     padding: 9px 4px;
-    font-family: monospace;
     display: inline-block;
-    font-size: 1.1em;
+    font-size: 1em;
+    font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;
 }
 @media only screen and (max-width: 576px) {
     form.sql textarea {
@@ -137,6 +137,16 @@ form input[type=submit] {
 .filter-row {
     margin-bottom: 0.6em;
 }
+.search-row {
+    margin-bottom: 1.8em;
+}
+
+.search-row label {
+    font-size: 1.2em;
+    padding-right: 0.5em;
+    display: inline-block;
+    width: 80px;
+}
 
 .select-wrapper {
     border: 1px solid #ccc;
diff --git a/datasette/templates/table.html b/datasette/templates/table.html
index 572a8819..77d4d8b6 100644
--- a/datasette/templates/table.html
+++ b/datasette/templates/table.html
@@ -24,13 +24,10 @@
     </h3>
 {% endif %}
 
-{% if supports_search %}
-    <form action="/{{ database }}-{{ database_hash }}/{{ table|quote_plus }}" method="get">
-        <p><input type="search" name="_search" value="{{ search }}"> <input type="submit" value="Search"></p>
-    </form>
-{% endif %}
-
 <form class="filters" action="/{{ database }}-{{ database_hash }}/{{ table|quote_plus }}" method="get">
+    {% if supports_search %}
+        <div class="search-row"><label for="_search">Search:</label><input id="_search" type="search" name="_search" value="{{ search }}"></div>
+    {% endif %}
     {% for column, lookup, value in filters.selections() %}
         <div class="filter-row">
             <div class="select-wrapper">
diff --git a/datasette/utils.py b/datasette/utils.py
index fe7c58e1..017e9dbb 100644
--- a/datasette/utils.py
+++ b/datasette/utils.py
@@ -359,8 +359,10 @@ class Filters:
         for filter in self._filters:
             yield filter.key, filter.display, filter.no_argument
 
-    def human_description(self):
+    def human_description(self, extra=None):
         bits = []
+        if extra:
+            bits.append(extra)
         for column, lookup, value in self.selections():
             filter = self._filters_by_key.get(lookup, None)
             if filter:
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index 881f5b06..4dc912de 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -404,6 +404,23 @@ def test_existing_filter_redirects(app_client):
     assert '?' not in response.headers['Location']
 
 
+def test_empty_search_parameter_gets_removed(app_client):
+    path_base = app_client.get(
+        '/test_tables/simple_primary_key', allow_redirects=False, gather_request=False
+    ).headers['Location']
+    path = path_base + '?' + urllib.parse.urlencode({
+        '_search': '',
+        '_filter_column': 'name',
+        '_filter_op': 'exact',
+        '_filter_value': 'chidi',
+    })
+    response = app_client.get(path, allow_redirects=False, gather_request=False)
+    assert response.status == 302
+    assert response.headers['Location'].endswith(
+        '?name__exact=chidi'
+    )
+
+
 TABLES = '''
 CREATE TABLE simple_primary_key (
   pk varchar(30) primary key,