diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/search.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/search.pyj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9857eeb0b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/search.pyj
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
+# License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2017, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+from __python__ import hash_literals, bound_methods
+
+class SearchOverlay:
+
+    def __init__(self, view):
+        self.view = view
+
+    @property
+    def container(self):
+        return document.getElementById('book-search-overlay')
+
+    def hide(self):
+        self.container.style.display = 'none'
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
index a207e6a972..4a5384de0b 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from book_list.globals import get_session_data, get_boss
 from read_book.globals import messenger, iframe_id, current_book, set_current_spine_item
 from read_book.resources import load_resources
 from read_book.overlay import Overlay
+from read_book.search import SearchOverlay
 from read_book.prefs.colors import resolve_color_scheme
 from read_book.prefs.font_size import change_font_size_by
 from read_book.touch import set_left_margin_handler, set_right_margin_handler
@@ -67,11 +68,13 @@ class View:
                             E.div(style='height:{}px; width:100%; padding: 0'.format(sd.get('margin_bottom', 20)), id='book-bottom-margin'),
                         ),
                         right_margin,
-                        E.div(style='position: absolute; top:0; left:0; width: 100%; height: 100%; display:none', id='book-overlay'),  # overlay
+                        E.div(style='position: absolute; top:0; left:0; width: 100%; display:none', id='book-search-overlay'),  # search overlay
+                        E.div(style='position: absolute; top:0; left:0; width: 100%; height: 100%; display:none', id='book-overlay'),  # main overlay
                     )
                 )
             )
         )
+        self.search_overlay = SearchOverlay(self)
         self.overlay = Overlay(self)
         self.src_doc = None
         self.iframe_ready = False
@@ -121,6 +124,7 @@ class View:
         change_font_size_by(delta)
 
     def show_chrome(self):
+        self.search_overlay.hide()
         self.overlay.show()
 
     def set_margins(self):