diff --git a/models/repo_list.go b/models/repo_list.go
index 7460c4b0ed..ee4266d4e6 100644
--- a/models/repo_list.go
+++ b/models/repo_list.go
@@ -248,7 +248,11 @@ func SearchRepositoryByName(opts *SearchRepoOptions) (RepositoryList, int64, err
 		// separate keyword
 		var subQueryCond = builder.NewCond()
 		for _, v := range strings.Split(opts.Keyword, ",") {
-			subQueryCond = subQueryCond.Or(builder.Like{"topic.name", strings.ToLower(v)})
+			if opts.TopicOnly {
+				subQueryCond = subQueryCond.Or(builder.Eq{"topic.name": strings.ToLower(v)})
+			} else {
+				subQueryCond = subQueryCond.Or(builder.Like{"topic.name", strings.ToLower(v)})
+			}
 		}
 		subQuery := builder.Select("repo_topic.repo_id").From("repo_topic").
 			Join("INNER", "topic", "topic.id = repo_topic.topic_id").