diff --git a/babi.py b/babi.py
index d4b23b3..8705eba 100644
--- a/babi.py
+++ b/babi.py
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ class Status:
         self._action_counter = -1
         self._history: Dict[str, List[str]] = collections.defaultdict(list)
         self._history_orig_len: Dict[str, int] = collections.defaultdict(int)
+        self._history_prev: Dict[str, str] = {}
 
     @contextlib.contextmanager
     def save_history(self) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
@@ -260,11 +261,14 @@ class Status:
             prompt: str,
             *,
             history: Optional[str] = None,
+            default_prev: bool = False,
     ) -> str:
         self.clear()
         if history is not None:
             lst = [*self._history[history], '']
             lst_pos = len(lst) - 1
+            if history in self._history_prev:
+                prompt = f'{prompt} [{self._history_prev[history]}]'
         else:
             lst = ['']
             lst_pos = 0
@@ -276,11 +280,25 @@ class Status:
         def set_buf(s: str) -> None:
             lst[lst_pos] = s
 
-        def _save_history_entry() -> None:
+        def _save_history_and_get_retv() -> str:
             if history is not None:
-                history_lst = self._history[history]
-                if not history_lst or history_lst[-1] != lst[lst_pos]:
-                    history_lst.append(lst[lst_pos])
+                prev = self._history_prev.get(history)
+                entry = buf()
+                if entry:  # only put non-empty things in history
+                    history_lst = self._history[history]
+                    if not history_lst or history_lst[-1] != entry:
+                        history_lst.append(entry)
+                    self._history_prev[history] = entry
+
+                if (
+                        default_prev and
+                        prev is not None and
+                        lst_pos == len(lst) - 1 and
+                        not lst[lst_pos]
+                ):
+                    return prev
+
+            return buf()
 
         def _render_prompt(*, base: str = prompt) -> None:
             if not base or curses.COLS < 7:
@@ -358,8 +376,7 @@ class Status:
                     elif key.keyname == b'^C':
                         return ''
                     elif key.key == ord('\r'):
-                        _save_history_entry()
-                        return lst[lst_pos]
+                        return _save_history_and_get_retv()
                     else:
                         # python3.8+ optimizes this out
                         # https://github.com/nedbat/coveragepy/issues/772
@@ -368,8 +385,7 @@ class Status:
             elif key.keyname == b'^C':
                 return ''
             elif key.key == ord('\r'):
-                _save_history_entry()
-                return lst[lst_pos]
+                return _save_history_and_get_retv()
 
 
 def _restore_lines_eof_invariant(lines: MutableSequenceNoSlice) -> None:
@@ -1053,7 +1069,9 @@ def _edit(screen: Screen) -> EditResult:
                 else:
                     screen.file.go_to_line(lineno, screen.margin)
         elif key.keyname == b'^W':
-            response = screen.status.prompt(screen, 'search', history='search')
+            response = screen.status.prompt(
+                screen, 'search', history='search', default_prev=True,
+            )
             if response == '':
                 screen.status.update('cancelled')
             else:
diff --git a/tests/babi_test.py b/tests/babi_test.py
index a95fd67..71d022f 100644
--- a/tests/babi_test.py
+++ b/tests/babi_test.py
@@ -707,6 +707,20 @@ def test_search_cancel(ten_lines, key):
         h.await_text('cancelled')
 
 
+def test_search_repeated_search(ten_lines):
+    with run(str(ten_lines)) as h, and_exit(h):
+        h.press('^W')
+        h.press('line')
+        h.await_text('search: line')
+        h.press('Enter')
+        h.await_cursor_position(x=0, y=2)
+
+        h.press('^W')
+        h.await_text('search [line]:')
+        h.press('Enter')
+        h.await_cursor_position(x=0, y=3)
+
+
 def test_search_history_recorded():
     with run() as h, and_exit(h):
         h.press('^W')
@@ -716,10 +730,10 @@ def test_search_history_recorded():
 
         h.press('^W')
         h.press('Up')
-        h.await_text('search: asdf')
+        h.await_text('search [asdf]: asdf')
         h.press('BSpace')
         h.press('test')
-        h.await_text('search: asdtest')
+        h.await_text('search [asdf]: asdtest')
         h.press('Down')
         h.await_text_missing('asdtest')
         h.press('Down')  # can't go past the end
@@ -732,9 +746,9 @@ def test_search_history_recorded():
 
         h.press('^W')
         h.press('Up')
-        h.await_text('search: asdtest')
+        h.await_text('search [asdtest]: asdtest')
         h.press('Up')
-        h.await_text('search: asdf')
+        h.await_text('search [asdtest]: asdf')
         h.press('^C')
 
 
@@ -746,14 +760,12 @@ def test_search_history_duplicates_dont_repeat():
         h.await_text('no matches')
 
         h.press('^W')
-        h.press('search2')
-        h.await_text('search:')
+        h.await_text('search [search1]:')
         h.press_and_enter('search2')
         h.await_text('no matches')
 
         h.press('^W')
-        h.press('search2')
-        h.await_text('search:')
+        h.await_text('search [search2]:')
         h.press_and_enter('search2')
         h.await_text('no matches')
 
@@ -856,7 +868,7 @@ def test_search_reverse_search_enter_saves_entry(xdg_data_home, ten_lines):
         h.press('Enter')
         h.press('^W')
         h.press('Up')
-        h.await_text('search: line_1')
+        h.await_text('search [line_1]: line_1')
         h.press('^C')