diff --git a/evil-search.el b/evil-search.el
index b42d924e..e26325c6 100644
--- a/evil-search.el
+++ b/evil-search.el
@@ -435,8 +435,8 @@ expression and is not transformed."
     ;; possibly transform regular expression from vim-style to
     ;; Emacs-style.
     (if (and evil-ex-search-vim-style-regexp
-             (not (or (string-match-p "\\`\\\\_?<" regexp)
-                      (string-match-p "\\\\_?>\\'" regexp))))
+             (not (or (string-match-p "\\`\\\\_<" regexp)
+                      (string-match-p "\\\\_>\\'" regexp))))
         (setq re (evil-transform-vim-style-regexp re))
       ;; Even for Emacs regular expressions we translate certain
       ;; whitespace sequences
diff --git a/evil-tests.el b/evil-tests.el
index fbf1cd4a..e9ca224d 100644
--- a/evil-tests.el
+++ b/evil-tests.el
@@ -8056,6 +8056,20 @@ golf h[o]>tel")))
         "start\nline 2\nline [3]\n\n"
         ("n")
         "start\nline 2\nline 3\n[]\n"))
+    (ert-info ("Can search for start/end of symbol")
+      (let ((evil-magic 'very-magic))
+        (evil-test-buffer
+          "[a]lpha bravo bra charlie"
+          ("/bra\\_>" [return])
+          "alpha bravo [b]ra charlie")))
+    (ert-info ("Can search for literal < and >")
+      (let ((evil-magic 'very-magic))
+        (evil-test-buffer
+          :visual-start "«"
+          :visual-end "»"
+          "[a]lpha bravo <bravo> charlie"
+          ("/<bravo>" [return])
+          "alpha bravo [<]bravo> charlie")))
     (ert-info ("Can paste from register in ex-search")
       (evil-test-buffer
        "Alpha [b]ravo charlie alpha bravo delta bravo delta"