diff --git a/roboflow/cli/handlers/image.py b/roboflow/cli/handlers/image.py
index 382a3f18..ae421860 100644
--- a/roboflow/cli/handlers/image.py
+++ b/roboflow/cli/handlers/image.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def search_images(
     Use --export to download matching results as a dataset.
     """
     if project:
-        # Project-scoped search (legacy behavior)
+        # _handle_search scopes by injecting a `project:<slug>` RoboQL filter.
         args = ctx_to_args(ctx, query=query, project=project, limit=limit, cursor=cursor)
         _handle_search(args)
     elif export:
@@ -422,10 +422,17 @@ def _handle_search(args):  # noqa: ANN001
         output_error(args, "No workspace specified", hint="Use --workspace or run 'roboflow auth login'")
         return
 
+    # search/v1 only scopes via a `project:<slug>` RoboQL filter (body params are
+    # ignored). Leading space = implicit AND; `AND (...)` 500s on free-text queries.
+    query = args.query
+    project = getattr(args, "project", None)
+    if project:
+        query = f"project:{project} {args.query}"
+
     result = rfapi.workspace_search(
         api_key=api_key,
         workspace_url=workspace_url,
-        query=args.query,
+        query=query,
         page_size=args.limit,
         continuation_token=args.cursor,
     )
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_image_handler.py b/tests/cli/test_image_handler.py
index 3c386a04..9497630a 100644
--- a/tests/cli/test_image_handler.py
+++ b/tests/cli/test_image_handler.py
@@ -462,9 +462,30 @@ def test_search(self, mock_workspace_search):
             sys.stdout = old
 
         mock_workspace_search.assert_called_once()
+        # -p must scope via a `project:<slug>` filter prepended to the query.
+        called_query = mock_workspace_search.call_args.kwargs["query"]
+        self.assertEqual(called_query, "project:proj tag:test")
         result = json.loads(buf.getvalue())
         self.assertEqual(result["total"], 0)
 
+    @patch("roboflow.adapters.rfapi.workspace_search")
+    def test_search_without_project_is_unscoped(self, mock_workspace_search):
+        from roboflow.cli.handlers.image import _handle_search
+
+        mock_workspace_search.return_value = {"results": [], "total": 0}
+        args = _make_args(json=True, query="tag:test", project=None, limit=10, cursor=None)
+
+        buf = io.StringIO()
+        old = sys.stdout
+        sys.stdout = buf
+        try:
+            _handle_search(args)
+        finally:
+            sys.stdout = old
+
+        called_query = mock_workspace_search.call_args.kwargs["query"]
+        self.assertEqual(called_query, "tag:test")
+
 
 class TestImageAnnotate(unittest.TestCase):
     """Test the annotate handler."""