diff --git a/services/web/public/coffee/main/user-details.coffee b/services/web/public/coffee/main/user-details.coffee
index 9f781a5a2a..a303086ca7 100644
--- a/services/web/public/coffee/main/user-details.coffee
+++ b/services/web/public/coffee/main/user-details.coffee
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ define [
 			# listen for blur events on institution field to send the post
 			if inputVal?.indexOf("(") != -1 and inputVal?.indexOf(")") != -1 
 				$scope.sendUpdate()
+
+			query = $scope.userInfoForm.institution
+			if query?.length <= 3
+				return #saves us algolia searches, need ~4 chars to get uni anyway
 				
 			Institutions.search $scope.userInfoForm.institution, (err, response)->
 				$scope.institutions = _.map response.hits, (institution)->