diff --git a/src/options.cpp b/src/options.cpp
index ea47de7993876..1f8c6a6a81e59 100644
--- a/src/options.cpp
+++ b/src/options.cpp
@@ -1245,11 +1245,6 @@ void options_manager::add_options_general()
     "ask"
        );
 
-    add( "MAP_UI_SEARCH_RADIUS", "general", translate_marker( "Map search radius" ),
-         translate_marker( "Radius around the cursor to search in the map UI.  Setting very high may be slow." ),
-         10, 4000, 100
-       );
-
     mOptionsSort["general"]++;
 
     add( "SOUND_ENABLED", "general", translate_marker( "Sound Enabled" ),
diff --git a/src/overmap_ui.cpp b/src/overmap_ui.cpp
index 47f5577928f83..15bad3645c8d0 100644
--- a/src/overmap_ui.cpp
+++ b/src/overmap_ui.cpp
@@ -1089,14 +1089,9 @@ void create_note( const tripoint &curs )
 static bool search( tripoint &curs, const tripoint &orig, const bool show_explored,
                     const bool fast_scroll, std::string &action )
 {
-    const int radius = get_option<int>( "MAP_UI_SEARCH_RADIUS" );
-
     std::string term = string_input_popup()
                        .title( _( "Search term:" ) )
-                       .description( string_format(
-                                         _( "Multiple entries separated with comma (,).  Excludes starting with hyphen (-)\n"
-                                            "Current search radius is %d.  It can be changed in options." ),
-                                         radius ) )
+                       .description( _( "Multiple entries separated with comma (,). Excludes starting with hyphen (-)." ) )
                        .query_string();
     if( term.empty() ) {
         return false;
@@ -1105,6 +1100,7 @@ static bool search( tripoint &curs, const tripoint &orig, const bool show_explor
     std::vector<point> locations;
     std::vector<point> overmap_checked;
 
+    const int radius = OMAPX / 2; // arbitrary
     for( const tripoint &p : points_in_radius( curs, radius ) ) {
         overmap_with_local_coords om_loc = overmap_buffer.get_existing_om_global( p );