diff --git a/plugins/autotrade.cpp b/plugins/autotrade.cpp
index ccc42f0e8..0a2ba8a2e 100644
--- a/plugins/autotrade.cpp
+++ b/plugins/autotrade.cpp
@@ -490,6 +490,13 @@ struct tradeview_hook : public df::viewscreen_tradegoodsst
     {
         INTERPOSE_NEXT(render)();
         
+        if (counteroffer.size() > 0)
+        {
+            // The merchant is proposing a counteroffer,
+            // so there is nothing to mark.
+            return;
+        }
+        
         // Insert into the blank line between trade items and standard keys.
         // The blank line at the bottom is taken by the search plugin.
         auto dim = Screen::getWindowSize();
diff --git a/plugins/search.cpp b/plugins/search.cpp
index 18586657b..0309e4861 100644
--- a/plugins/search.cpp
+++ b/plugins/search.cpp
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ protected:
     //bool redo_search;
     string search_string;
 
-private:
+protected:
     int *cursor_pos;
     char select_key;
     bool valid;
@@ -1074,15 +1074,24 @@ class trade_search_merc : public trade_search_base
 public:
     virtual void render() const
     {
+        if (viewscreen->counteroffer.size() > 0)
+        {
+            // The merchant is proposing a counteroffer.
+            // Not only is there nothing to search,
+            // but the native hotkeys are where we normally write.
+            return;
+        }
+        
         print_search_option(2, -1);
 
         if (!search_string.empty())
         {
-            make_text_dim(2, 37, 22);
-            make_text_dim(42, gps->dimx-2, 22);
             int32_t x = 2;
             int32_t y = gps->dimy - 3;
-            OutputString(COLOR_YELLOW, x, y, "Note: Clear search to trade");
+            make_text_dim(2, 37, y);
+            make_text_dim(42, gps->dimx-2, y);
+            OutputString(COLOR_LIGHTRED, x, y, string(1, select_key + 'A' - 'a'));
+            OutputString(COLOR_WHITE, x, y, ": Clear search to trade           ");
         }
     }
 
@@ -1116,15 +1125,24 @@ class trade_search_fort : public trade_search_base
 public:
     virtual void render() const
     {
+        if (viewscreen->counteroffer.size() > 0)
+        {
+            // The merchant is proposing a counteroffer.
+            // Not only is there nothing to search,
+            // but the native hotkeys are where we normally write.
+            return;
+        }
+        
         print_search_option(42, -1);
 
         if (!search_string.empty())
         {
-            make_text_dim(2, 37, 22);
-            make_text_dim(42, gps->dimx-2, 22);
             int32_t x = 42;
             int32_t y = gps->dimy - 3;
-            OutputString(COLOR_YELLOW, x, y, "Note: Clear search to trade");
+            make_text_dim(2, 37, y);
+            make_text_dim(42, gps->dimx-2, y);
+            OutputString(COLOR_LIGHTRED, x, y, string(1, select_key + 'A' - 'a'));
+            OutputString(COLOR_WHITE, x, y, ": Clear search to trade           ");
         }
     }