diff --git a/book/src/editor.md b/book/src/editor.md
index 667a7147c..7dbcd4b41 100644
--- a/book/src/editor.md
+++ b/book/src/editor.md
@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ Search specific options.
 | Key | Description | Default |
 |--|--|---------|
 | `smart-case` | Enable smart case regex searching (case-insensitive unless pattern contains upper case characters) | `true` |
+| `ignore-case-unless-smart` | Enable case-insensitive search, unless overridden by `smart-case` behavior | `false` |
 | `wrap-around`| Whether the search should wrap after depleting the matches | `true` |
 
 ### `[editor.whitespace]` Section
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 2cbdeb451..f61646e99 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -2285,7 +2285,7 @@ fn search_next_or_prev_impl(cx: &mut Context, movement: Movement, direction: Dir
         let case_insensitive = if search_config.smart_case {
             !query.chars().any(char::is_uppercase)
         } else {
-            false
+            search_config.ignore_case_unless_smart
         };
         let wrap_around = search_config.wrap_around;
         if let Ok(regex) = rope::RegexBuilder::new()
@@ -2457,6 +2457,7 @@ fn global_search(cx: &mut Context) {
 
     struct GlobalSearchConfig {
         smart_case: bool,
+        ignore_case_unless_smart: bool,
         file_picker_config: helix_view::editor::FilePickerConfig,
         directory_style: Style,
         number_style: Style,
@@ -2466,6 +2467,7 @@ fn global_search(cx: &mut Context) {
     let config = cx.editor.config();
     let config = GlobalSearchConfig {
         smart_case: config.search.smart_case,
+        ignore_case_unless_smart: config.search.ignore_case_unless_smart,
         file_picker_config: config.file_picker.clone(),
         directory_style: cx.editor.theme.get("ui.text.directory"),
         number_style: cx.editor.theme.get("constant.numeric.integer"),
@@ -2517,8 +2519,10 @@ fn global_search(cx: &mut Context) {
             .map(|doc| (doc.path().cloned(), doc.text().to_owned()))
             .collect();
 
+        let use_case_insensitive = !config.smart_case && config.ignore_case_unless_smart;
         let matcher = match RegexMatcherBuilder::new()
             .case_smart(config.smart_case)
+            .case_insensitive(use_case_insensitive)
             .build(query)
         {
             Ok(matcher) => {
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs
index 106bfbfb8..e31769797 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ pub fn raw_regex_prompt(
                     let case_insensitive = if config.search.smart_case {
                         !input.chars().any(char::is_uppercase)
                     } else {
-                        false
+                        config.search.ignore_case_unless_smart
                     };
 
                     match rope::RegexBuilder::new()
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index cb9586e79..448f3e5f1 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -490,6 +490,8 @@ impl Default for LspConfig {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case", default, deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct SearchConfig {
+    /// Enables case-insensitive search, unless overridden by `smart_case` behavior. Defaults to false.
+    pub ignore_case_unless_smart: bool,
     /// Smart case: Case insensitive searching unless pattern contains upper case characters. Defaults to true.
     pub smart_case: bool,
     /// Whether the search should wrap after depleting the matches. Default to true.
@@ -1040,6 +1042,7 @@ impl Default for SearchConfig {
         Self {
             wrap_around: true,
             smart_case: true,
+            ignore_case_unless_smart: false,
         }
     }
 }