diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cf74bd2466c..b4926ab6bf4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 - Bump AGP to v8.3.1
 - Bump desugar JDK library to v2.0.4
 
+### Fixes
+
+- Fix app crash on searching overdue patient with special characters
+
 ## 2024-01-08-8979
 
 ### Internal
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/simple/clinic/overdue/AppointmentRepository.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/simple/clinic/overdue/AppointmentRepository.kt
index 79f7ed1d558..61291e23566 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/simple/clinic/overdue/AppointmentRepository.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/simple/clinic/overdue/AppointmentRepository.kt
@@ -152,8 +152,16 @@ class AppointmentRepository @Inject constructor(
     )
   }
 
-  private fun transformSearchInputsIntoQuery(searchInputs: List<String>) = searchInputs
-      .joinToString(separator = " OR ") { "*$it*" }
+  private fun transformSearchInputsIntoQuery(searchInputs: List<String>): String {
+    return searchInputs.joinToString(separator = " OR ") {
+      sanitizeSearchQuery(it)
+    }
+  }
+
+  private fun sanitizeSearchQuery(query: String): String {
+    val escapedQuery = query.replace(Regex.fromLiteral("\""), "\"\"")
+    return "\"*$escapedQuery*\""
+  }
 
   fun lastCreatedAppointmentForPatient(patientUuid: UUID): Optional<Appointment> {
     return appointmentDao.lastCreatedAppointmentForPatient(patientUuid).toOptional()