diff --git a/common/static/common/js/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.js b/common/static/common/js/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.js
index 2d07bfebd6..f9727fede0 100644
--- a/common/static/common/js/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.js
+++ b/common/static/common/js/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.js
@@ -414,6 +414,7 @@
 
             DiscussionThreadListView.prototype.chooseFilter = function() {
                 this.filter = $('.forum-nav-filter-main-control :selected').val();
+                this.clearSearchAlerts();
                 return this.retrieveFirstPage();
             };
 
diff --git a/common/static/common/js/spec/discussion/view/discussion_thread_list_view_spec.js b/common/static/common/js/spec/discussion/view/discussion_thread_list_view_spec.js
index 77eab3564a..abd7dba46c 100644
--- a/common/static/common/js/spec/discussion/view/discussion_thread_list_view_spec.js
+++ b/common/static/common/js/spec/discussion/view/discussion_thread_list_view_spec.js
@@ -233,6 +233,19 @@
             });
         });
 
+        it('filter should clear search alert when alternate term was searched', function() {
+            var filterval = 'unread';
+            expectFilter(filterval);
+            this.view.$('.forum-nav-filter-main-control').val(filterval);
+            expect($('.search-alert .message').text())
+                .toEqual('There are no posts in this topic yet.');
+
+            filterval = 'all';
+            expectFilter(filterval);
+            this.view.$('.forum-nav-filter-main-control').val(filterval).change();
+            expect($('.search-alert .message').text()).toEqual('');
+        });
+
         describe('group selector', function() {
             it('should not be visible to students', function() {
                 return expect(this.view.$('.forum-nav-filter-cohort-control:visible')).not.toExist();