diff --git a/helix-core/src/lib.rs b/helix-core/src/lib.rs
index 03fbdedfa..e1b5a1a12 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ pub use helix_loader::find_workspace;
 pub fn find_first_non_whitespace_char(line: RopeSlice) -> Option<usize> {
     line.chars().position(|ch| !ch.is_whitespace())
 }
+mod rope_reader;
 
+pub use rope_reader::RopeReader;
 pub use ropey::{self, str_utils, Rope, RopeBuilder, RopeSlice};
 
 // pub use tendril::StrTendril as Tendril;
diff --git a/helix-core/src/rope_reader.rs b/helix-core/src/rope_reader.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..20ed7bac1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-core/src/rope_reader.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+use std::io;
+
+use ropey::iter::Chunks;
+use ropey::RopeSlice;
+
+pub struct RopeReader<'a> {
+    current_chunk: &'a [u8],
+    chunks: Chunks<'a>,
+}
+
+impl<'a> RopeReader<'a> {
+    pub fn new(rope: RopeSlice<'a>) -> RopeReader<'a> {
+        RopeReader {
+            current_chunk: &[],
+            chunks: rope.chunks(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl io::Read for RopeReader<'_> {
+    fn read(&mut self, mut buf: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<usize> {
+        let buf_len = buf.len();
+        loop {
+            let read_bytes = self.current_chunk.read(buf)?;
+            buf = &mut buf[read_bytes..];
+            if buf.is_empty() {
+                return Ok(buf_len);
+            }
+
+            if let Some(next_chunk) = self.chunks.next() {
+                self.current_chunk = next_chunk.as_bytes();
+            } else {
+                return Ok(buf_len - buf.len());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index b90f418a6..ae715887e 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use helix_core::{
     tree_sitter::Node,
     unicode::width::UnicodeWidthChar,
     visual_offset_from_block, Deletion, LineEnding, Position, Range, Rope, RopeGraphemes,
-    RopeSlice, Selection, SmallVec, Tendril, Transaction,
+    RopeReader, RopeSlice, Selection, SmallVec, Tendril, Transaction,
 };
 use helix_view::{
     clipboard::ClipboardType,
@@ -2062,11 +2062,16 @@ fn global_search(cx: &mut Context) {
                 .map(|comp| (0.., std::borrow::Cow::Owned(comp.clone())))
                 .collect()
         },
-        move |_editor, regex, event| {
+        move |editor, regex, event| {
             if event != PromptEvent::Validate {
                 return;
             }
 
+            let documents: Vec<_> = editor
+                .documents()
+                .map(|doc| (doc.path(), doc.text()))
+                .collect();
+
             if let Ok(matcher) = RegexMatcherBuilder::new()
                 .case_smart(smart_case)
                 .build(regex.as_str())
@@ -2099,6 +2104,7 @@ fn global_search(cx: &mut Context) {
                         let mut searcher = searcher.clone();
                         let matcher = matcher.clone();
                         let all_matches_sx = all_matches_sx.clone();
+                        let documents = &documents;
                         Box::new(move |entry: Result<DirEntry, ignore::Error>| -> WalkState {
                             let entry = match entry {
                                 Ok(entry) => entry,
@@ -2111,17 +2117,36 @@ fn global_search(cx: &mut Context) {
                                 _ => return WalkState::Continue,
                             };
 
-                            let result = searcher.search_path(
-                                &matcher,
-                                entry.path(),
-                                sinks::UTF8(|line_num, _| {
-                                    all_matches_sx
-                                        .send(FileResult::new(entry.path(), line_num as usize - 1))
-                                        .unwrap();
-
-                                    Ok(true)
-                                }),
-                            );
+                            let sink = sinks::UTF8(|line_num, _| {
+                                all_matches_sx
+                                    .send(FileResult::new(entry.path(), line_num as usize - 1))
+                                    .unwrap();
+
+                                Ok(true)
+                            });
+                            let doc = documents.iter().find(|&(doc_path, _)| {
+                                doc_path.map_or(false, |doc_path| doc_path == entry.path())
+                            });
+
+                            let result = if let Some((_, doc)) = doc {
+                                // there is already a buffer for this file
+                                // search the buffer instead of the file because it's faster
+                                // and captures new edits without requireing a save
+                                if searcher.multi_line_with_matcher(&matcher) {
+                                    // in this case a continous buffer is required
+                                    // convert the rope to a string
+                                    let text = doc.to_string();
+                                    searcher.search_slice(&matcher, text.as_bytes(), sink)
+                                } else {
+                                    searcher.search_reader(
+                                        &matcher,
+                                        RopeReader::new(doc.slice(..)),
+                                        sink,
+                                    )
+                                }
+                            } else {
+                                searcher.search_path(&matcher, entry.path(), sink)
+                            };
 
                             if let Err(err) = result {
                                 log::error!(