diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/shared/smart-search/smart-search.service.js b/awx/ui/client/src/shared/smart-search/smart-search.service.js
index 8e7b57271d..fc540c3573 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/shared/smart-search/smart-search.service.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/shared/smart-search/smart-search.service.js
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ export default [function() {
             let groups = [];
             let quoted;
 
+            // This split _may_ split search terms down the middle
+            // ex) searchString=ansible_facts.some_other_thing:"foo foobar" ansible_facts.some_thing:"foobar"
+            // would result in 3 different substring's but only two search terms
+            // This logic handles that scenario with the `quoted` variable
             searchString.split(' ').forEach(substring => {
                 if (/:"/g.test(substring)) {
                     if (/"$/.test(substring)) {