diff --git a/synapse/storage/search.py b/synapse/storage/search.py
index f0fa5d7631..ef4f587d8c 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/search.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/search.py
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ def _parse_query(database_engine, search_term):
     results = re.findall(r"([\w\-]+)", search_term, re.UNICODE)
 
     if isinstance(database_engine, PostgresEngine):
-        return " & ".join(result + ":*" for result in results)
+        return " & ".join(result for result in results)
     elif isinstance(database_engine, Sqlite3Engine):
         return " & ".join(result + "*" for result in results)
     else: