diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/__tests__/__snapshots__/table.test.js.snap b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/__tests__/__snapshots__/table.test.js.snap
index eecc496328f3d..d3ca955a95a54 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/__tests__/__snapshots__/table.test.js.snap
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/__tests__/__snapshots__/table.test.js.snap
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 exports[`Table should render normally 1`] = `
 <React.Fragment>
   <EuiSearchBar
+    box={
+      Object {
+        "data-test-subj": "savedObjectSearchBar",
+      }
+    }
     filters={
       Array [
         Object {
diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/__tests__/table.test.js b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/__tests__/table.test.js
index 41470722a1b3b..1228667a647f5 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/__tests__/table.test.js
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/__tests__/table.test.js
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@
  */
 
 import React from 'react';
-import { shallowWithIntl } from 'test_utils/enzyme_helpers';
+import { shallowWithIntl, mountWithIntl } from 'test_utils/enzyme_helpers';
+import { findTestSubject } from '@elastic/eui/lib/test';
+import { keyCodes } from '@elastic/eui/lib/services';
 
 jest.mock('ui/errors', () => ({
   SavedObjectNotFound: class SavedObjectNotFound extends Error {
@@ -39,37 +41,62 @@ jest.mock('ui/chrome', () => ({
 
 import { Table } from '../table';
 
+const defaultProps = {
+  selectedSavedObjects: [1],
+  selectionConfig: {
+    onSelectionChange: () => {},
+  },
+  filterOptions: [{ value: 2 }],
+  onDelete: () => {},
+  onExport: () => {},
+  getEditUrl: () => {},
+  goInApp: () => {},
+  pageIndex: 1,
+  pageSize: 2,
+  items: [3],
+  itemId: 'id',
+  totalItemCount: 3,
+  onQueryChange: () => {},
+  onTableChange: () => {},
+  isSearching: false,
+  onShowRelationships: () => {},
+};
+
 describe('Table', () => {
   it('should render normally', () => {
-    const props = {
-      selectedSavedObjects: [1],
-      selectionConfig: {
-        onSelectionChange: () => {},
-      },
-      filterOptions: [{ value: 2 }],
-      onDelete: () => {},
-      onExport: () => {},
-      getEditUrl: () => {},
-      goInApp: () => {},
+    const component = shallowWithIntl(
+      <Table.WrappedComponent
+        {...defaultProps}
+      />
+    );
 
-      pageIndex: 1,
-      pageSize: 2,
-      items: [3],
-      itemId: 'id',
-      totalItemCount: 3,
-      onQueryChange: () => {},
-      onTableChange: () => {},
-      isSearching: false,
+    expect(component).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
 
-      onShowRelationships: () => {},
+  it('should handle query parse error', () => {
+    const onQueryChangeMock = jest.fn();
+    const customizedProps = {
+      ...defaultProps,
+      onQueryChange: onQueryChangeMock
     };
 
-    const component = shallowWithIntl(
+    const component = mountWithIntl(
       <Table.WrappedComponent
-        {...props}
+        {...customizedProps}
       />
     );
+    const searchBar = findTestSubject(component, 'savedObjectSearchBar');
 
-    expect(component).toMatchSnapshot();
+    // Send invalid query
+    searchBar.simulate('keyup', { keyCode: keyCodes.ENTER, target: { value: '?' } });
+    expect(onQueryChangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+    expect(component.state().isSearchTextValid).toBe(false);
+
+    onQueryChangeMock.mockReset();
+
+    // Send valid query to ensure component can recover from invalid query
+    searchBar.simulate('keyup', { keyCode: keyCodes.ENTER, target: { value: 'I am valid' } });
+    expect(onQueryChangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(component.state().isSearchTextValid).toBe(true);
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/table.js b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/table.js
index 0effa28d9c40c..09ba15cc16b4b 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/table.js
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/objects/components/objects_table/components/table/table.js
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ import {
   EuiIcon,
   EuiLink,
   EuiSpacer,
-  EuiToolTip
+  EuiToolTip,
+  EuiFormErrorText
 } from '@elastic/eui';
 import { getSavedObjectLabel, getSavedObjectIcon } from '../../../../lib';
 import { FormattedMessage, injectI18n } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
@@ -61,6 +62,27 @@ class TableUI extends PureComponent {
     onShowRelationships: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   };
 
+  state = {
+    isSearchTextValid: true,
+    parseErrorMessage: null,
+  }
+
+  onChange = ({ query, error }) => {
+    if (error) {
+      this.setState({
+        isSearchTextValid: false,
+        parseErrorMessage: error.message,
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.setState({
+      isSearchTextValid: true,
+      parseErrorMessage: null,
+    });
+    this.props.onQueryChange({ query });
+  }
+
   render() {
     const {
       pageIndex,
@@ -74,7 +96,6 @@ class TableUI extends PureComponent {
       onDelete,
       onExport,
       selectedSavedObjects,
-      onQueryChange,
       onTableChange,
       goInApp,
       getEditUrl,
@@ -182,11 +203,25 @@ class TableUI extends PureComponent {
       },
     ];
 
+    let queryParseError;
+    if (!this.state.isSearchTextValid) {
+      const parseErrorMsg = intl.formatMessage({
+        id: 'kbn.management.objects.objectsTable.searchBar.unableToParseQueryErrorMessage',
+        defaultMessage: 'Unable to parse query',
+      });
+      queryParseError = (
+        <EuiFormErrorText>
+          {`${parseErrorMsg}. ${this.state.parseErrorMessage}`}
+        </EuiFormErrorText>
+      );
+    }
+
     return (
       <Fragment>
         <EuiSearchBar
+          box={{ 'data-test-subj': 'savedObjectSearchBar' }}
           filters={filters}
-          onChange={onQueryChange}
+          onChange={this.onChange}
           toolsRight={[
             <EuiButton
               key="deleteSO"
@@ -213,6 +248,7 @@ class TableUI extends PureComponent {
             </EuiButton>,
           ]}
         />
+        {queryParseError}
         <EuiSpacer size="s" />
         <div data-test-subj="savedObjectsTable">
           <EuiBasicTable
diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/__snapshots__/search.test.js.snap b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/__snapshots__/search.test.js.snap
index 230721cbaacf0..cdfc62c5134b8 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/__snapshots__/search.test.js.snap
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/__snapshots__/search.test.js.snap
@@ -1,58 +1,61 @@
 // Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
 
 exports[`Search should render normally 1`] = `
-<EuiSearchBar
-  box={
-    Object {
-      "aria-label": "Search advanced settings",
-      "incremental": true,
-    }
-  }
-  filters={
-    Array [
+<React.Fragment>
+  <EuiSearchBar
+    box={
       Object {
-        "field": "category",
-        "multiSelect": "or",
-        "name": "Category",
-        "options": Array [
-          Object {
-            "name": "General",
-            "value": "general",
-          },
-          Object {
-            "name": "Dashboard",
-            "value": "dashboard",
-          },
-          Object {
-            "name": "HiddenCategory",
-            "value": "hiddenCategory",
-          },
-          Object {
-            "name": "X-pack",
-            "value": "x-pack",
+        "aria-label": "Search advanced settings",
+        "data-test-subj": "settingsSearchBar",
+        "incremental": true,
+      }
+    }
+    filters={
+      Array [
+        Object {
+          "field": "category",
+          "multiSelect": "or",
+          "name": "Category",
+          "options": Array [
+            Object {
+              "name": "General",
+              "value": "general",
+            },
+            Object {
+              "name": "Dashboard",
+              "value": "dashboard",
+            },
+            Object {
+              "name": "HiddenCategory",
+              "value": "hiddenCategory",
+            },
+            Object {
+              "name": "X-pack",
+              "value": "x-pack",
+            },
+          ],
+          "type": "field_value_selection",
+        },
+      ]
+    }
+    onChange={[Function]}
+    query={
+      Query {
+        "ast": _AST {
+          "_clauses": Array [],
+          "_indexedClauses": Object {
+            "field": Object {},
+            "is": Object {},
+            "term": Array [],
           },
-        ],
-        "type": "field_value_selection",
-      },
-    ]
-  }
-  onChange={[Function]}
-  query={
-    Query {
-      "ast": _AST {
-        "_clauses": Array [],
-        "_indexedClauses": Object {
-          "field": Object {},
-          "is": Object {},
-          "term": Array [],
         },
-      },
-      "syntax": Object {
-        "parse": [Function],
-        "print": [Function],
-      },
-      "text": "",
+        "syntax": Object {
+          "parse": [Function],
+          "print": [Function],
+        },
+        "text": "",
+      }
     }
-  }
-/>
+  />
+</React.Fragment>
 `;
diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/search.js b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/search.js
index 919bcfe4da7a3..2006839877d5b 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/search.js
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/search.js
@@ -17,12 +17,13 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-import React, { PureComponent } from 'react';
+import React, { Fragment, PureComponent } from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { injectI18n } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
 
 import {
   EuiSearchBar,
+  EuiFormErrorText,
 } from '@elastic/eui';
 
 import { getCategoryName } from '../../lib';
@@ -46,11 +47,33 @@ class SearchUI extends PureComponent {
     });
   }
 
+  state = {
+    isSearchTextValid: true,
+    parseErrorMessage: null,
+  }
+
+  onChange = ({ query, error }) => {
+    if (error) {
+      this.setState({
+        isSearchTextValid: false,
+        parseErrorMessage: error.message,
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.setState({
+      isSearchTextValid: true,
+      parseErrorMessage: null,
+    });
+    this.props.onQueryChange({ query });
+  }
+
   render() {
-    const { query, onQueryChange, intl } = this.props;
+    const { query, intl } = this.props;
 
     const box = {
       incremental: true,
+      'data-test-subj': 'settingsSearchBar',
       'aria-label': intl.formatMessage({
         id: 'kbn.management.settings.searchBarAriaLabel',
         defaultMessage: 'Search advanced settings',
@@ -71,14 +94,29 @@ class SearchUI extends PureComponent {
       }
     ];
 
-    return (
-      <EuiSearchBar
-        box={box}
-        filters={filters}
-        onChange={onQueryChange}
-        query={query}
-      />
+    let queryParseError;
+    if (!this.state.isSearchTextValid) {
+      const parseErrorMsg = intl.formatMessage({
+        id: 'kbn.management.settings.searchBar.unableToParseQueryErrorMessage',
+        defaultMessage: 'Unable to parse query',
+      });
+      queryParseError = (
+        <EuiFormErrorText>
+          {`${parseErrorMsg}. ${this.state.parseErrorMessage}`}
+        </EuiFormErrorText>
+      );
+    }
 
+    return (
+      <Fragment>
+        <EuiSearchBar
+          box={box}
+          filters={filters}
+          onChange={this.onChange}
+          query={query}
+        />
+        {queryParseError}
+      </Fragment>
     );
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/search.test.js b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/search.test.js
index 2b76394ccc71e..40532605d807a 100644
--- a/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/search.test.js
+++ b/src/core_plugins/kibana/public/management/sections/settings/components/search/search.test.js
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 import React from 'react';
 import { shallowWithIntl, mountWithIntl } from 'test_utils/enzyme_helpers';
+import { findTestSubject } from '@elastic/eui/lib/test';
 
 
 import { Query } from '@elastic/eui';
@@ -52,7 +53,32 @@ describe('Search', () => {
         onQueryChange={onQueryChange}
       />
     );
-    component.find('input').simulate('keyup', { target: { value: 'new filter' } });
+    findTestSubject(component, 'settingsSearchBar').simulate('keyup', { target: { value: 'new filter' } });
     expect(onQueryChange).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
+
+  it('should handle query parse error', async () => {
+    const onQueryChangeMock = jest.fn();
+    const component = mountWithIntl(
+      <Search.WrappedComponent
+        query={query}
+        categories={categories}
+        onQueryChange={onQueryChangeMock}
+      />
+    );
+
+    const searchBar = findTestSubject(component, 'settingsSearchBar');
+
+    // Send invalid query
+    searchBar.simulate('keyup', { target: { value: '?' } });
+    expect(onQueryChangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+    expect(component.state().isSearchTextValid).toBe(false);
+
+    onQueryChangeMock.mockReset();
+
+    // Send valid query to ensure component can recover from invalid query
+    searchBar.simulate('keyup', { target: { value: 'dateFormat' } });
+    expect(onQueryChangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(component.state().isSearchTextValid).toBe(true);
+  });
 });