diff --git a/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/FlameGraphContainer.test.tsx b/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/FlameGraphContainer.test.tsx
index 10e2eeb8d03..4fdb00d6748 100644
--- a/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/FlameGraphContainer.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/FlameGraphContainer.test.tsx
@@ -55,15 +55,15 @@ describe('FlameGraphContainer', () => {
   it('should update search when row selected in top table', async () => {
     render(<FlameGraphContainerWithProps />);
     await userEvent.click((await screen.findAllByTitle('Highlight symbol'))[0]);
-    expect(screen.getByDisplayValue('net/http.HandlerFunc.ServeHTTP')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByDisplayValue('^net/http\\.HandlerFunc\\.ServeHTTP$')).toBeInTheDocument();
     // Unclick the selection so that we can click something else and continue test checks
     await userEvent.click((await screen.findAllByTitle('Highlight symbol'))[0]);
 
     await userEvent.click((await screen.findAllByTitle('Highlight symbol'))[1]);
-    expect(screen.getByDisplayValue('total')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByDisplayValue('^total$')).toBeInTheDocument();
     // after it is highlighted it will be the only (first) item in the table so [1] -> [0]
     await userEvent.click((await screen.findAllByTitle('Highlight symbol'))[0]);
-    expect(screen.queryByDisplayValue('total')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByDisplayValue('^total$')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it('should render options', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/FlameGraphContainer.tsx b/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/FlameGraphContainer.tsx
index da09ea26739..5d95051e353 100644
--- a/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/FlameGraphContainer.tsx
+++ b/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/FlameGraphContainer.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import * as React from 'react';
 import { useMeasure } from 'react-use';
 
-import { DataFrame, GrafanaTheme2 } from '@grafana/data';
+import { DataFrame, GrafanaTheme2, escapeStringForRegex } from '@grafana/data';
 import { ThemeContext } from '@grafana/ui';
 
 import FlameGraph from './FlameGraph/FlameGraph';
@@ -189,11 +189,13 @@ const FlameGraphContainer = ({
 
   const onSymbolClick = useCallback(
     (symbol: string) => {
-      if (search === symbol) {
+      const anchored = `^${escapeStringForRegex(symbol)}$`;
+
+      if (search === anchored) {
         setSearch('');
       } else {
         onTableSymbolClick?.(symbol);
-        setSearch(symbol);
+        setSearch(anchored);
         resetFocus();
       }
     },
@@ -241,7 +243,13 @@ const FlameGraphContainer = ({
       matchedLabels={matchedLabels}
       sandwichItem={sandwichItem}
       onSandwich={setSandwichItem}
-      onSearch={setSearch}
+      onSearch={(str) => {
+        if (!str) {
+          setSearch('');
+          return;
+        }
+        setSearch(`^${escapeStringForRegex(str)}$`);
+      }}
       onTableSort={onTableSort}
       colorScheme={colorScheme}
     />
diff --git a/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/TopTable/FlameGraphTopTableContainer.tsx b/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/TopTable/FlameGraphTopTableContainer.tsx
index 8c5461bb053..b9072f42c29 100644
--- a/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/TopTable/FlameGraphTopTableContainer.tsx
+++ b/packages/grafana-flamegraph/src/TopTable/FlameGraphTopTableContainer.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   FieldType,
   GrafanaTheme2,
   MappingType,
+  escapeStringForRegex,
 } from '@grafana/data';
 import {
   IconButton,
@@ -332,7 +333,7 @@ type ActionCellProps = {
 function ActionCell(props: ActionCellProps) {
   const styles = getStylesActionCell();
   const symbol = props.frame.fields.find((f: Field) => f.name === 'Symbol')?.values[props.rowIndex];
-  const isSearched = props.search === symbol;
+  const isSearched = props.search === `^${escapeStringForRegex(String(symbol))}$`;
   const isSandwiched = props.sandwichItem === symbol;
 
   return (