diff --git a/cardinal/src/App.tsx b/cardinal/src/App.tsx
index 48b91d7..fd92953 100644
--- a/cardinal/src/App.tsx
+++ b/cardinal/src/App.tsx
@@ -498,6 +498,13 @@ function App() {
       if (activeTab !== 'files') {
         return;
       }
+      if (event.key === 'Enter') {
+        queueSearch(event.currentTarget.value, {
+          immediate: true,
+          onSearchCommitted: updateHistoryFromInput,
+        });
+        return;
+      }
       if (event.key !== 'ArrowUp' && event.key !== 'ArrowDown') {
         return;
       }
@@ -508,7 +515,7 @@ function App() {
       event.preventDefault();
       handleHistoryNavigation(event.key === 'ArrowUp' ? 'older' : 'newer');
     },
-    [activeTab, handleHistoryNavigation],
+    [activeTab, handleHistoryNavigation, queueSearch, updateHistoryFromInput],
   );
 
   const handleHorizontalSync = useCallback((scrollLeft: number) => {
@@ -600,7 +607,6 @@ function App() {
         // Switch to files: sync with reducer-managed search state and cancel pending timers
         ensureHistoryBuffer('');
         resetSearchQuery();
-        cancelPendingSearches();
       }
     },
     [
diff --git a/cardinal/src/hooks/useFileSearch.ts b/cardinal/src/hooks/useFileSearch.ts
index 73cd4bd..cc8707f 100644
--- a/cardinal/src/hooks/useFileSearch.ts
+++ b/cardinal/src/hooks/useFileSearch.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type SearchParams = {
 };
 
 type QueueSearchOptions = {
+  immediate?: boolean;
   onSearchCommitted?: (query: string) => void;
 };
 
@@ -285,13 +286,19 @@ export function useFileSearch(): UseFileSearchResult {
   const queueSearch = useCallback(
     (query: string, options?: QueueSearchOptions) => {
       updateSearchParams({ query });
-      cancelTimer(debounceTimerRef);
+      cancelPendingSearches();
+      if (options?.immediate) {
+        options.onSearchCommitted?.(query);
+        void handleSearch({ query });
+        return;
+      }
+
       debounceTimerRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
         options?.onSearchCommitted?.(query);
         handleSearch({ query });
       }, SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS);
     },
-    [handleSearch, updateSearchParams],
+    [cancelPendingSearches, handleSearch, updateSearchParams],
   );
 
   const resetSearchQuery = useCallback(() => {