diff --git a/commands.c b/commands.c
index bd058fa..b6ad942 100644
--- a/commands.c
+++ b/commands.c
@@ -340,6 +340,8 @@ cmd_search(girara_session_t* session, const char* input, girara_argument_t* argu
   bool firsthit = true;
   zathura_error_t error = ZATHURA_ERROR_OK;
 
+  /* set search direction */
+  zathura->global.search_direction = argument->n;
 
   unsigned int number_of_pages     = zathura_document_get_number_of_pages(zathura->document);
   unsigned int current_page_number = zathura_document_get_current_page_number(zathura->document);
@@ -383,7 +385,12 @@ cmd_search(girara_session_t* session, const char* input, girara_argument_t* argu
       if (page_id != 0) {
         page_set_delayed(zathura, zathura_page_get_index(page));
       }
-      g_object_set(page_widget, "search-current", 0, NULL);
+      if (argument->n == BACKWARD) {
+        /* start at bottom hit in page */
+        g_object_set(page_widget, "search-current", girara_list_size(result) - 1, NULL);
+      } else {
+        g_object_set(page_widget, "search-current", 0, NULL);
+      }
       firsthit = false;
     }
   }
diff --git a/shortcuts.c b/shortcuts.c
index 0614f49..9a33d22 100644
--- a/shortcuts.c
+++ b/shortcuts.c
@@ -743,7 +743,10 @@ sc_search(girara_session_t* session, girara_argument_t* argument,
 
   const int num_pages = zathura_document_get_number_of_pages(zathura->document);
   const int cur_page  = zathura_document_get_current_page_number(zathura->document);
+
   int diff = argument->n == FORWARD ? 1 : -1;
+  if (zathura->global.search_direction == BACKWARD)
+    diff = -diff;
 
   zathura_page_t* target_page = NULL;
   int target_idx = 0;
diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index 2eb9043..8da1375 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ zathura_create(void)
   /* global settings */
   zathura->global.recolor            = false;
   zathura->global.update_page_number = true;
+  zathura->global.search_direction = FORWARD;
 
   /* plugins */
   zathura->plugins.manager = zathura_plugin_manager_new();
diff --git a/zathura.h b/zathura.h
index 1a0ba07..6970063 100644
--- a/zathura.h
+++ b/zathura.h
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ struct zathura_s
     bool recolor_keep_hue; /**< Keep hue when recoloring */
     bool recolor; /**< Recoloring mode switch */
     bool update_page_number; /**< Update current page number */
+    int search_direction; /**< Current search direction (FORWARD or BACKWARD) */
     girara_list_t* marks; /**< Marker */
     char** arguments; /**> Arguments that were passed at startup */
   } global;