diff --git a/app/controllers/guide_cards_controller.rb b/app/controllers/guide_cards_controller.rb
index e62e30f..f8a23d1 100644
--- a/app/controllers/guide_cards_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/guide_cards_controller.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ def index
 
   def search
     @exact_match = GuideCard.find_by(heading: params[:search_term])
+    @exact_match = GuideCard.where('heading < ?', 'Aarons').limit(1).order(heading: :desc).first if @exact_match.nil?
     @guide_cards = GuideCard.page(@exact_match.index_page)
   end
 
diff --git a/app/views/guide_cards/search.html.erb b/app/views/guide_cards/search.html.erb
index 4f21c01..7a950f0 100644
--- a/app/views/guide_cards/search.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/guide_cards/search.html.erb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 <% @guide_cards.each do |card| %>
   <h2>
-  <% if @exact_match.id == card.id %>
+  <% if @exact_match&.id == card.id %>
     <%= link_to "* #{card.heading}", guide_card_path(card.id) %>
     <% else %>
       <%= link_to card.heading, guide_card_path(card.id) %>
diff --git a/spec/system/search_feature_spec.rb b/spec/system/search_feature_spec.rb
index fe76816..c85006f 100644
--- a/spec/system/search_feature_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/search_feature_spec.rb
@@ -15,5 +15,11 @@
       click_on 'Go'
       expect(page).to have_link('* Aaron')
     end
+    it 'finds the closest match if there is no exact match' do
+      visit '/'
+      fill_in 'search_term', with: 'Aarons'
+      click_on 'Go'
+      expect(page).to have_link('* Aaron')
+    end
   end
 end