diff --git a/app/models/concerns/spotlight/browse_category_search_builder.rb b/app/models/concerns/spotlight/browse_category_search_builder.rb
index c1fe41fc3..bcb30dc8c 100644
--- a/app/models/concerns/spotlight/browse_category_search_builder.rb
+++ b/app/models/concerns/spotlight/browse_category_search_builder.rb
@@ -31,12 +31,21 @@ def fix_up_browse_category_queries(solr_params)
 
       solr_params.append_query(query) if query.present?
 
+      # for a browse category formed from a saved search, the query syntax reads as two "must" values
+      # e.g.  "json"=>{"query"=>{"bool"=>{"must"=>["savedsearchterm", "browsecategorysearchterm"]}}}}
+      must_values = solr_params.dig(:json, :query, :bool, :must)
+
+      return unless must_values&.any?
+
+      # this type of query must be parsed by lucene to function
+      solr_params[:defType] = 'lucene'
+
       # This replicates existing spotlight 2.x search behavior, more or less. It
       # doesn't take into account the possibility that the browse category query
       # could use a different search field (which.. doesn't have an existing UI
       # control.. and may require additional upstream work to properly encapsulate
       # the two query parameters)
-      solr_params.dig(:json, :query, :bool, :must)&.map! do |q|
+      must_values.map! do |q|
         q.is_a?(String) ? { edismax: { query: q } } : q
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/factories/searches.rb b/spec/factories/searches.rb
index 56b2a26b7..24210dc80 100644
--- a/spec/factories/searches.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/searches.rb
@@ -30,4 +30,16 @@
 
     after(:build) { |search| search.thumbnail = FactoryBot.create(:featured_image) }
   end
+
+  factory :search_field_search, class: 'Spotlight::Search' do
+    exhibit
+    title { 'Based on a search field' }
+    query_params { { 'search_field' => 'search', 'q' => 'model' } }
+  end
+
+  factory :facet_search, class: 'Spotlight::Search' do
+    exhibit
+    title { 'Based on a facet' }
+    query_params { { 'f' => { 'language_ssim' => 'Latin' } } }
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/features/browse_category_spec.rb b/spec/features/browse_category_spec.rb
index fd9f0ff30..966da8b40 100644
--- a/spec/features/browse_category_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/browse_category_spec.rb
@@ -156,4 +156,30 @@
       expect(page).to have_css "meta[property='og:title'][content='#{search.title}']", visible: false
     end
   end
+
+  context 'with a search field based browse category' do
+    let(:search) { FactoryBot.create(:search_field_search, title: 'Search field search', exhibit: exhibit, published: true, search_box: true) }
+
+    it 'conducts a search within the browse category' do
+      visit spotlight.exhibit_browse_path(exhibit, search)
+      expect(search.documents.count).to eq 6
+
+      fill_in 'Search within this browse category', with: 'azimuthal'
+      click_button 'Search within browse category'
+      expect(page).to have_text('Your search matched 1 of 6 items in this browse category.')
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'with a facet based browse category' do
+    let(:search) { FactoryBot.create(:facet_search, title: 'Facet search', exhibit: exhibit, published: true, search_box: true) }
+
+    it 'conducts a search within the browse category' do
+      visit spotlight.exhibit_browse_path(exhibit, search)
+      expect(search.documents.count).to eq 3
+
+      fill_in 'Search within this browse category', with: 'Stopendael'
+      click_button 'Search within browse category'
+      expect(page).to have_text('Your search matched 1 of 3 items in this browse category.')
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/spotlight/browse_category_search_builder_spec.rb b/spec/models/spotlight/browse_category_search_builder_spec.rb
index fda7d9662..8bd4c5808 100644
--- a/spec/models/spotlight/browse_category_search_builder_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/spotlight/browse_category_search_builder_spec.rb
@@ -14,37 +14,65 @@ class BrowseCategoryMockSearchBuilder < Blacklight::SearchBuilder
   end
   let(:solr_request) { Blacklight::Solr::Request.new }
   let(:blacklight_params) { { browse_category_id: search.id } }
-  let(:search) { FactoryBot.create(:search, exhibit: exhibit, query_params: { sort: 'type', f: { genre_ssim: ['term'] }, q: 'search query' }) }
 
-  describe '#restrict_to_browse_category' do
-    it 'adds the search query parameters from the browse category' do
-      params = subject.to_hash.with_indifferent_access
+  context 'with a facet as the basis of the browse category (no search query present)' do
+    let(:search) { FactoryBot.create(:search, exhibit: exhibit, query_params: { sort: 'type', f: { genre_ssim: ['genre facet'] } }) }
 
-      expect(params).to include(
-        q: 'search query',
-        fq: ['{!term f=genre_ssim}term'],
-        sort: 'sort_type_ssi asc'
-      )
+    describe 'constructs params properly' do
+      it 'adds facet to the solr params' do
+        params = subject.to_hash.with_indifferent_access
+
+        expect(params).to include(
+          fq: ['{!term f=genre_ssim}genre facet'],
+          sort: 'sort_type_ssi asc'
+        )
+      end
+
+      it 'does not override the default query parser' do
+        params = subject.to_hash.with_indifferent_access
+        expect(params).not_to include(:defType)
+      end
     end
+  end
 
-    context 'with a user-provided query' do
-      let(:blacklight_params) { { browse_category_id: search.id, q: 'cats' } }
+  context 'with a search query as part of the construction of the browse category' do
+    let(:search) { FactoryBot.create(:search, exhibit: exhibit, query_params: { sort: 'type', f: { genre_ssim: ['term'] }, q: 'search query' }) }
 
-      it 'uses the user-provided query to further restrict the search' do
+    describe 'constructs params properly' do
+      it 'includes the facet and the seach term information in the params' do
         params = subject.to_hash.with_indifferent_access
-        expect(params).not_to include(:q)
+
         expect(params).to include(
-          json: {
-            query: {
-              bool: {
-                must: [
-                  { edismax: { query: 'search query' } },
-                  { edismax: { query: 'cats' } }
-                ]
+          q: 'search query',
+          fq: ['{!term f=genre_ssim}term'],
+          sort: 'sort_type_ssi asc'
+        )
+      end
+
+      context 'with a search term present' do
+        let(:blacklight_params) { { browse_category_id: search.id, q: 'cats' } }
+
+        it 'manipulates the solr query as expected into json syntax' do
+          params = subject.to_hash.with_indifferent_access
+          expect(params).not_to include(:q)
+          expect(params).to include(
+            json: {
+              query: {
+                bool: {
+                  must: [
+                    { edismax: { query: 'search query' } },
+                    { edismax: { query: 'cats' } }
+                  ]
+                }
               }
             }
-          }
-        )
+          )
+        end
+
+        it 'overrides the default query parser' do
+          params = subject.to_hash.with_indifferent_access
+          expect(params).to include(defType: 'lucene')
+        end
       end
     end
   end