diff --git a/endpoints/api/search.py b/endpoints/api/search.py
index 591499928..375be7b77 100644
--- a/endpoints/api/search.py
+++ b/endpoints/api/search.py
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ class ConductSearch(ApiResource):
     # Modify the results' scores via how close the query term is to each result's name.
     for result in results:
       name = result.get('short_name', result['name'])
-      lm_score = liquidmetal.score(name, query) or 1
+      lm_score = liquidmetal.score(name, query) or 0.5
       result['score'] = result['score'] * lm_score
 
     return {'results': sorted(results, key=itemgetter('score'), reverse=True)}