diff --git a/modules/search.module b/modules/search.module
index 3f6a357d90184342c393cff89354fd3aebd1bb63..177ac74f17d11ee60d90c92572f97e47d33ad4ac 100644
--- a/modules/search.module
+++ b/modules/search.module
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ function do_search($keywords, $type, $join = '', $where = '1', $variation = true
   $refused = array();
   // Build WHERE clause
   foreach ($keys as $word) {
-    if (drupal_substr($word) < variable_get('remove_short', 3)) {
+    if (drupal_strlen($word) < variable_get('remove_short', 3)) {
       if ($word != '') {
         $refused[] = str_replace('�', '*', $word);
       }
diff --git a/modules/search/search.module b/modules/search/search.module
index 3f6a357d90184342c393cff89354fd3aebd1bb63..177ac74f17d11ee60d90c92572f97e47d33ad4ac 100644
--- a/modules/search/search.module
+++ b/modules/search/search.module
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ function do_search($keywords, $type, $join = '', $where = '1', $variation = true
   $refused = array();
   // Build WHERE clause
   foreach ($keys as $word) {
-    if (drupal_substr($word) < variable_get('remove_short', 3)) {
+    if (drupal_strlen($word) < variable_get('remove_short', 3)) {
       if ($word != '') {
         $refused[] = str_replace('�', '*', $word);
       }