diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/search.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/search.py
index ca29189046..31386fc4a1 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/search.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/search.py
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ class PushButton(QPushButton):
 
 class HistoryLineEdit(HistoryLineEdit2):
 
+    max_history_items = 100
+
     def __init__(self, parent, clear_msg):
         HistoryLineEdit2.__init__(self, parent)
         self.disable_popup = tprefs['disable_completion_popup_for_search']
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/widgets2.py b/src/calibre/gui2/widgets2.py
index 3a52d72078..fe8a1f1b3d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/widgets2.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/widgets2.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ from calibre.gui2.widgets import history
 
 class HistoryLineEdit2(LineEdit):
 
+    max_history_items = None
+
     @property
     def store_name(self):
         return 'lineedit_history_'+self._name
@@ -31,6 +33,8 @@ class HistoryLineEdit2(LineEdit):
             except ValueError:
                 pass
             self.history.insert(0, ct)
+            if self.max_history_items is not None:
+                del self.history[self.max_history_items:]
             history.set(self.store_name, self.history)
             self.update_items_cache(self.history)