diff --git a/ietf/doc/views_search.py b/ietf/doc/views_search.py
index c0172f4e6..c500e702e 100644
--- a/ietf/doc/views_search.py
+++ b/ietf/doc/views_search.py
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ from ietf.name.models import DocTagName, DocTypeName, StreamName
 from ietf.person.models import Person
 from ietf.person.utils import get_active_ads
 from ietf.utils.draft_search import normalize_draftname
+from ietf.utils.log import log
 from ietf.doc.utils_search import prepare_document_table
 
 
@@ -222,12 +223,14 @@ def search(request):
             return HttpResponseBadRequest("form not valid: %s" % form.errors)
 
         cache_key = get_search_cache_key(get_params)
-        results = cache.get(cache_key)
-        if not results:
+        cached_val = cache.get(cache_key)
+        if cached_val:
+            [results, meta] = cached_val
+        else:
             results = retrieve_search_results(form)
-            cache.set(cache_key, results)
-
-        results, meta = prepare_document_table(request, results, get_params)
+            results, meta = prepare_document_table(request, results, get_params)
+            cache.set(cache_key, [results, meta]) # for settings.CACHE_MIDDLEWARE_SECONDS
+            log(f"Search results computed for {get_params}")
         meta['searching'] = True
     else:
         form = SearchForm()