diff --git a/src/testdir/test_search.vim b/src/testdir/test_search.vim
index 5030dee..60152f6 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_search.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_search.vim
@@ -1449,3 +1449,8 @@
 
   bwipe!
 endfunc
+
+func Test_search_special()
+  " this was causing illegal memory access
+  exe "norm /\x80PS"
+endfunc