diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fbccfae..fd825a8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ The project is intentionally dependency-light: Swift Package Manager, AppKit, Ca
   - `Command + 1` through `Command + 9` paste the numbered visible card; add `Shift` to paste that card as plain text
   - `Command + G` shows a filtered result back in the full clipboard history
   - `Shift + Command + N` creates a new collection
+  - `Space` previews the selected card when the focused search field is empty
 - Clipboard history for text, URLs with local preview thumbnails when available, images, audio, RTF/HTML rich text, PDFs, and file references
 - SQLite persistence with bounded history, pinned-item retention, and encrypted app-managed payloads
 - Search with independent token matching, structured filters such as `app:Safari`, `type:image,pdf`, `pinboard:"Client Work","Read Later"`, `date:2026-06-30`, result jump-back to full history, and optional local OCR for copied images
diff --git a/docs/SMOKE_TEST.md b/docs/SMOKE_TEST.md
index f355e92..dadac23 100644
--- a/docs/SMOKE_TEST.md
+++ b/docs/SMOKE_TEST.md
@@ -34,20 +34,21 @@ Use this checklist before a release or after changes to panel, pasteboard, setti
 1. Open the panel and confirm the search field is focused.
 2. Type a query and confirm results filter immediately.
 3. Type a structured query such as `pinboard:"Client Work","Read Later" type:image,pdf` and confirm only clips from those collections and content types remain.
-4. Use arrow keys to move selection while the search field is focused.
-5. Right-click a filtered result and choose Show in Clipboard, or press `Command + G`, and confirm search clears while the same card stays selected in Most Recent.
-6. Press `Esc` once with a non-empty search field and confirm search clears.
-7. Press `Esc` again and confirm the panel closes.
-8. Reopen the panel, change sort segments, and confirm each segment updates results.
-9. Press `Shift + Command + N` or the collection rail `+`, enter `Client Work`, choose a color, and confirm a Client Work chip appears with 0 clips and an empty collection view.
-10. Return to Clipboard, select a card, use its Collect button to choose Client Work, and confirm the Client Work chip count increases.
-11. Select the Client Work chip and confirm the rail filters to assigned items, cards use the Client Work name/color in their headers, and the collection/color/assignment persists after quitting and reopening ClipBored.
-12. Right-click the Client Work chip, choose Edit Collection..., rename it, change its color, and confirm the chip and assigned card headers update.
-13. Right-click a media, file, link, PDF, audio, or text card, choose Rename..., give it a title, and confirm the card title and search results use the custom title while paste/copy still uses the original payload.
-14. Double-click an item and confirm it attempts to paste or falls back to copy without creating a duplicate history entry.
-15. Right-click a card, use Capture Rules to ignore its source app, copy from that app again, and confirm the new item is skipped.
-16. Drag an unassigned card onto the renamed collection chip and confirm the chip count increases and the card appears when that collection is selected.
-17. Resize or test on a narrow display and confirm the bottom shelf switches to compact cards that still show two recent clips cleanly.
+4. Clear the search field, press `Space`, and confirm the selected previewable clip opens in Quick Look instead of inserting a blank query.
+5. Use arrow keys to move selection while the search field is focused.
+6. Right-click a filtered result and choose Show in Clipboard, or press `Command + G`, and confirm search clears while the same card stays selected in Most Recent.
+7. Press `Esc` once with a non-empty search field and confirm search clears.
+8. Press `Esc` again and confirm the panel closes.
+9. Reopen the panel, change sort segments, and confirm each segment updates results.
+10. Press `Shift + Command + N` or the collection rail `+`, enter `Client Work`, choose a color, and confirm a Client Work chip appears with 0 clips and an empty collection view.
+11. Return to Clipboard, select a card, use its Collect button to choose Client Work, and confirm the Client Work chip count increases.
+12. Select the Client Work chip and confirm the rail filters to assigned items, cards use the Client Work name/color in their headers, and the collection/color/assignment persists after quitting and reopening ClipBored.
+13. Right-click the Client Work chip, choose Edit Collection..., rename it, change its color, and confirm the chip and assigned card headers update.
+14. Right-click a media, file, link, PDF, audio, or text card, choose Rename..., give it a title, and confirm the card title and search results use the custom title while paste/copy still uses the original payload.
+15. Double-click an item and confirm it attempts to paste or falls back to copy without creating a duplicate history entry.
+16. Right-click a card, use Capture Rules to ignore its source app, copy from that app again, and confirm the new item is skipped.
+17. Drag an unassigned card onto the renamed collection chip and confirm the chip count increases and the card appears when that collection is selected.
+18. Resize or test on a narrow display and confirm the bottom shelf switches to compact cards that still show two recent clips cleanly.
 
 ## Copy And Paste
 
diff --git a/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelController.swift b/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelController.swift
index 0f08b8e..1999069 100644
--- a/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelController.swift
+++ b/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelController.swift
@@ -339,6 +339,16 @@ final class ClipboardPanelController: NSObject, NSWindowDelegate, QLPreviewPanel
     removeKeyMonitor()
     keyMonitor = NSEvent.addLocalMonitorForEvents(matching: .keyDown) { [weak self] event in
       guard let self else { return event }
+      if self.shouldHandlePanelKeyEvent(event, allowSearchFieldEditing: true),
+         self.panelView.isSearchFieldEditing,
+         Self.searchFieldPreviewShortcut(
+           forKeyCode: event.keyCode,
+           modifiers: event.modifierFlags,
+           searchText: self.panelView.searchTextForKeyboardShortcut
+         ) {
+        self.previewSelected()
+        return nil
+      }
       if self.shouldHandlePanelKeyEvent(event, allowSearchFieldEditing: true),
          let index = Self.quickPasteIndex(forKeyCode: event.keyCode, modifiers: event.modifierFlags) {
         self.viewModel.pasteItem(at: index)
@@ -469,6 +479,11 @@ final class ClipboardPanelController: NSObject, NSWindowDelegate, QLPreviewPanel
     return collectionShortcuts[keyCode]
   }
 
+  static func searchFieldPreviewShortcut(forKeyCode keyCode: UInt16, modifiers: NSEvent.ModifierFlags, searchText: String) -> Bool {
+    let relevantModifiers = modifiers.intersection(.deviceIndependentFlagsMask)
+    return keyCode == 49 && relevantModifiers.isEmpty && searchText.clipboardTrimmed.isEmpty
+  }
+
   static func commandShortcutAction(forKeyCode keyCode: UInt16, modifiers: NSEvent.ModifierFlags) -> ClipboardPanelShortcutAction? {
     let relevantModifiers = modifiers.intersection(.deviceIndependentFlagsMask)
     guard relevantModifiers == .command else { return nil }
diff --git a/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelView.swift b/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelView.swift
index 6d3dc33..45f699f 100644
--- a/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelView.swift
+++ b/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelView.swift
@@ -1102,6 +1102,10 @@ final class ClipboardPanelView: NSVisualEffectView, NSSearchFieldDelegate {
     return false
   }
 
+  var searchTextForKeyboardShortcut: String {
+    searchField.stringValue
+  }
+
   override func acceptsFirstMouse(for event: NSEvent?) -> Bool {
     return true
   }
diff --git a/tests/clipboredtests/ClipboardPanelControllerTests.swift b/tests/clipboredtests/ClipboardPanelControllerTests.swift
index 8cbdfb4..a84737d 100644
--- a/tests/clipboredtests/ClipboardPanelControllerTests.swift
+++ b/tests/clipboredtests/ClipboardPanelControllerTests.swift
@@ -164,6 +164,14 @@ final class ClipboardPanelControllerTests: XCTestCase {
     XCTAssertNil(ClipboardPanelController.collectionShortcutMode(forKeyCode: 29, modifiers: .command))
   }
 
+  func testSearchFieldSpacePreviewShortcutRequiresEmptySearchAndNoModifiers() {
+    XCTAssertTrue(ClipboardPanelController.searchFieldPreviewShortcut(forKeyCode: 49, modifiers: [], searchText: ""))
+    XCTAssertTrue(ClipboardPanelController.searchFieldPreviewShortcut(forKeyCode: 49, modifiers: [], searchText: "   "))
+    XCTAssertFalse(ClipboardPanelController.searchFieldPreviewShortcut(forKeyCode: 49, modifiers: [], searchText: "release note"))
+    XCTAssertFalse(ClipboardPanelController.searchFieldPreviewShortcut(forKeyCode: 49, modifiers: .command, searchText: ""))
+    XCTAssertFalse(ClipboardPanelController.searchFieldPreviewShortcut(forKeyCode: 36, modifiers: [], searchText: ""))
+  }
+
   func testCommandActionShortcutsMapToSelectedClipActions() {
     XCTAssertEqual(ClipboardPanelController.commandShortcutAction(forKeyCode: 8, modifiers: .command), .copy)
     XCTAssertEqual(ClipboardPanelController.commandShortcutAction(forKeyCode: 5, modifiers: .command), .showInClipboard)