diff --git a/modules/ve-mw/ui/dialogs/ve.ui.MWMediaInsertDialog.js b/modules/ve-mw/ui/dialogs/ve.ui.MWMediaInsertDialog.js
index 51a2285389..b7054c101d 100644
--- a/modules/ve-mw/ui/dialogs/ve.ui.MWMediaInsertDialog.js
+++ b/modules/ve-mw/ui/dialogs/ve.ui.MWMediaInsertDialog.js
@@ -195,6 +195,8 @@ ve.ui.MWMediaInsertDialog.prototype.teardown = function ( data ) {
 		] ).collapseRangeToEnd().select();
 	}
 
+	this.search.clear();
+
 	// Parent method
 	ve.ui.MWDialog.prototype.teardown.call( this, data );
 };
diff --git a/modules/ve-mw/ui/dialogs/ve.ui.MWReferenceDialog.js b/modules/ve-mw/ui/dialogs/ve.ui.MWReferenceDialog.js
index 95c4d718c4..4fa811a3bf 100644
--- a/modules/ve-mw/ui/dialogs/ve.ui.MWReferenceDialog.js
+++ b/modules/ve-mw/ui/dialogs/ve.ui.MWReferenceDialog.js
@@ -407,6 +407,7 @@ ve.ui.MWReferenceDialog.prototype.teardown = function ( data ) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	this.search.clear();
 	this.referenceSurface.destroy();
 	this.referenceSurface = null;
 	this.ref = null;