diff --git a/app/path_params.py b/app/path_params.py
index 2672d0c..16263ba 100644
--- a/app/path_params.py
+++ b/app/path_params.py
@@ -10,10 +10,11 @@
 
 def issue_number_search_value(query: str) -> int | None:
     """Return a bounded GitHub issue number from a plain numeric search query."""
-    if not query.isdigit():
+    clean = query.removeprefix("#")
+    if not clean.isdigit():
         return None
     try:
-        issue_number = int(query)
+        issue_number = int(clean)
     except ValueError:
         return None
     return issue_number if issue_number <= SQLITE_INTEGER_MAX else None
diff --git a/tests/test_bounty_pages.py b/tests/test_bounty_pages.py
index e696d6c..c34e5a4 100644
--- a/tests/test_bounty_pages.py
+++ b/tests/test_bounty_pages.py
@@ -172,6 +172,16 @@ def test_bounties_page_and_api_search_by_text_and_issue_number(sqlite_url: str)
     assert issue_search.status_code == 200
     assert [row["issue_number"] for row in issue_search.json()] == [65]
 
+    hash_issue_search = client.get("/api/v1/bounties?q=%2365")
+    assert hash_issue_search.status_code == 200
+    assert [row["issue_number"] for row in hash_issue_search.json()] == [65]
+
+    hash_issue_page = client.get("/bounties?q=%2365")
+    assert hash_issue_page.status_code == 200
+    assert "Showing matches for “#65”." in hash_issue_page.text
+    assert "Internal admin cleanup" in hash_issue_page.text
+    assert "Improve public bounty discovery" not in hash_issue_page.text
+
     oversized_issue_search = client.get("/api/v1/bounties", params={"q": "9" * 40})
     assert oversized_issue_search.status_code == 200
     assert oversized_issue_search.json() == []
diff --git a/tests/test_path_params.py b/tests/test_path_params.py
index 52f9c9b..4ca535e 100644
--- a/tests/test_path_params.py
+++ b/tests/test_path_params.py
@@ -20,12 +20,15 @@ def assert_bad_request(func, *args):
 
 def test_issue_number_search_value_accepts_bounded_numeric_query():
     assert issue_number_search_value("340") == 340
+    assert issue_number_search_value("#340") == 340
     assert issue_number_search_value(str(SQLITE_INTEGER_MAX)) == SQLITE_INTEGER_MAX
 
 
 def test_issue_number_search_value_rejects_non_numeric_or_overflow_query():
     assert issue_number_search_value("") is None
+    assert issue_number_search_value("#") is None
     assert issue_number_search_value(" 340") is None
+    assert issue_number_search_value(" #340") is None
     assert issue_number_search_value("340a") is None
     assert issue_number_search_value(str(SQLITE_INTEGER_MAX + 1)) is None