diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/search.py b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
index 80969d31b..18bf1d40c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class Search(View):
             return JsonResponse([r.json() for r in book_results], safe=False)
 
         # use webfinger for mastodon style account@domain.com username
-        if re.match(r"\B%s" % regex.full_username, query):
+        if re.match(regex.full_username, query):
             handle_remote_webfinger(query)
 
         # do a  user search