diff --git a/terminatorlib/regex.py b/terminatorlib/regex.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e88c1189
--- /dev/null
+++ b/terminatorlib/regex.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+"""
+Utilities for Regexp in VTE
+"""
+
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vte', '2.91')  # vte-0.38 (gnome-3.14)
+from gi.repository import GLib, Vte
+
+# constants for vte regex matching
+# TODO: Please replace with a proper reference to VTE, I found none!
+PCRE2_MULTILINE = 0x00000400
+FLAGS_GLIB = (GLib.RegexCompileFlags.OPTIMIZE | GLib.RegexCompileFlags.MULTILINE)
+if hasattr(Vte, 'REGEX_FLAGS_DEFAULT'):
+    FLAGS_PCRE2 = (Vte.REGEX_FLAGS_DEFAULT | PCRE2_MULTILINE)
+else:
+    FLAGS_PCRE2 = None
diff --git a/terminatorlib/searchbar.py b/terminatorlib/searchbar.py
index 95132cb2..83c0dbde 100644
--- a/terminatorlib/searchbar.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/searchbar.py
@@ -2,12 +2,16 @@
 # GPL v2 only
 """searchbar.py - classes necessary to provide a terminal search bar"""
 
+import gi
 from gi.repository import Gtk, Gdk
+gi.require_version('Vte', '2.91')  # vte-0.38 (gnome-3.14)
+from gi.repository import Vte
 from gi.repository import GObject
 from gi.repository import GLib
 
 from .translation import _
 from .config import Config
+from . import regex
 
 # pylint: disable-msg=R0904
 class Searchbar(Gtk.HBox):
@@ -127,8 +131,20 @@ class Searchbar(Gtk.HBox):
 
         if searchtext != self.searchstring:
             self.searchstring = searchtext
-            self.searchre = GLib.Regex(searchtext, 0, 0)
-            self.vte.search_set_gregex(self.searchre, 0)
+            self.searchre = None
+
+            if regex.FLAGS_PCRE2:
+                try:
+                    self.searchre = Vte.Regex.new_for_search(searchtext, len(searchtext), regex.FLAGS_PCRE2)
+                    self.vte.search_set_regex(self.searchre, 0)
+                except GLib.Error:
+                    # happens when PCRE2 support is not builtin (Ubuntu < 19.10)
+                    pass
+
+            if not self.searchre:
+                # fall back to old GLib regex
+                self.searchre = GLib.Regex(searchtext, regex.FLAGS_GLIB, 0)
+                self.vte.search_set_gregex(self.searchre, 0)
 
         self.next.set_sensitive(True)
         self.prev.set_sensitive(True)
diff --git a/terminatorlib/terminal.py b/terminatorlib/terminal.py
index 64a14bdd..2f22dfb9 100644
--- a/terminatorlib/terminal.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/terminal.py
@@ -28,15 +28,7 @@ from .translation import _
 from .signalman import Signalman
 from . import plugin
 from terminatorlib.layoutlauncher import LayoutLauncher
-
-# constants for vte regex matching
-# TODO: Please replace with a proper reference to VTE, I found none!
-PCRE2_MULTILINE = 0x00000400
-REGEX_FLAGS_GLIB = (GLib.RegexCompileFlags.OPTIMIZE | GLib.RegexCompileFlags.MULTILINE)
-if hasattr(Vte, 'REGEX_FLAGS_DEFAULT'):
-    REGEX_FLAGS_PCRE2 = (Vte.REGEX_FLAGS_DEFAULT | PCRE2_MULTILINE)
-else:
-    REGEX_FLAGS_PCRE2 = None
+from . import regex
 
 # pylint: disable-msg=R0904
 class Terminal(Gtk.VBox):
@@ -266,9 +258,9 @@ class Terminal(Gtk.VBox):
 
     def _add_regex(self, name, re):
         match = -1
-        if REGEX_FLAGS_PCRE2:
+        if regex.FLAGS_PCRE2:
             try:
-                reg = Vte.Regex.new_for_match(re, len(re), self.regex_flags or REGEX_FLAGS_PCRE2)
+                reg = Vte.Regex.new_for_match(re, len(re), self.regex_flags or regex.FLAGS_PCRE2)
                 match = self.vte.match_add_regex(reg, 0)
             except GLib.Error:
                 # happens when PCRE2 support is not builtin (Ubuntu < 19.10)
@@ -276,7 +268,7 @@ class Terminal(Gtk.VBox):
 
         # try the "old" glib regex
         if match < 0:
-            reg = GLib.Regex.new(re, self.regex_flags or REGEX_FLAGS_GLIB, 0)
+            reg = GLib.Regex.new(re, self.regex_flags or regex.FLAGS_GLIB, 0)
             match = self.vte.match_add_gregex(reg, 0)
 
         self.matches[name] = match