diff --git a/src/state.js b/src/state.js
index be36c99bc..9a2034691 100644
--- a/src/state.js
+++ b/src/state.js
@@ -696,9 +696,12 @@ function $StateProvider(   $urlRouterProvider,   $urlMatcherFactory) {
    * @requires $injector
    * @requires ui.router.util.$resolve
    * @requires ui.router.state.$stateParams
+   * @requires ui.router.state.$stateSearch
    * @requires ui.router.router.$urlRouter
    *
-   * @property {object} params A param object, e.g. {sectionId: section.id)}, that 
+   * @property {object} params A param object, e.g. {sectionId: section.id}, that 
+   * you'd like to test against the current active state.
+   * @property {object} search A $location.search copy, e.g. {myarg: 123}, that 
    * you'd like to test against the current active state.
    * @property {object} current A reference to the state's config object. However 
    * you passed it in. Useful for accessing custom data.
@@ -711,8 +714,8 @@ function $StateProvider(   $urlRouterProvider,   $urlMatcherFactory) {
    * you're coming from.
    */
   this.$get = $get;
-  $get.$inject = ['$rootScope', '$q', '$view', '$injector', '$resolve', '$stateParams', '$urlRouter', '$location', '$urlMatcherFactory'];
-  function $get(   $rootScope,   $q,   $view,   $injector,   $resolve,   $stateParams,   $urlRouter,   $location,   $urlMatcherFactory) {
+  $get.$inject = ['$rootScope', '$q', '$view', '$injector', '$resolve', '$stateParams', '$stateSearch', '$urlRouter', '$location', '$urlMatcherFactory'];
+  function $get(   $rootScope,   $q,   $view,   $injector,   $resolve,   $stateParams,   $stateSearch,   $urlRouter,   $location,   $urlMatcherFactory) {
 
     var TransitionSuperseded = $q.reject(new Error('transition superseded'));
     var TransitionPrevented = $q.reject(new Error('transition prevented'));
@@ -788,6 +791,7 @@ function $StateProvider(   $urlRouterProvider,   $urlMatcherFactory) {
 
     $state = {
       params: {},
+      search: {},
       current: root.self,
       $current: root,
       transition: null
@@ -1042,6 +1046,10 @@ function $StateProvider(   $urlRouterProvider,   $urlMatcherFactory) {
           });
           $urlRouter.update(true);
         }
+        var toSearch = angular.extend({}, $location.search());
+        $state.search = toSearch;
+        copy($state.search, $stateSearch);
+
         $state.transition = null;
         return $q.when($state.current);
       }
@@ -1145,6 +1153,10 @@ function $StateProvider(   $urlRouterProvider,   $urlMatcherFactory) {
           });
         }
 
+        var toSearch = angular.extend({}, $location.search());
+        $state.search = toSearch;
+        copy($state.search, $stateSearch);
+
         if (options.notify) {
         /**
          * @ngdoc event
@@ -1463,4 +1475,5 @@ function $StateProvider(   $urlRouterProvider,   $urlMatcherFactory) {
 
 angular.module('ui.router.state')
   .factory('$stateParams', function () { return {}; })
+  .factory('$stateSearch', function () { return {}; })
   .provider('$state', $StateProvider);
diff --git a/test/stateSpec.js b/test/stateSpec.js
index cecde231c..f108291f6 100644
--- a/test/stateSpec.js
+++ b/test/stateSpec.js
@@ -233,7 +233,21 @@ describe('state', function () {
       expect(called).toBeFalsy();
     }));
 
-    it('updates URL when changing only query params via $state.go() when reloadOnSearch=false', inject(function ($state, $stateParams, $q, $location, $rootScope){
+    it('updates $stateSearch when state.reloadOnSearch=false', inject(function ($state, $stateParams, $stateSearch, $q, $location, $rootScope){
+      initStateTo(RS);
+      $location.search({term: 'hello', myarg: 'search'});
+      var called;
+      $rootScope.$on('$stateChangeStart', function (ev, to, toParams, from, fromParams, options) {
+        called = true
+      });
+      $q.flush();
+      expect($stateParams).toEqual({term: 'hello'});
+      expect($state.search).toEqual({term: 'hello', myarg: 'search'});
+      expect($stateSearch).toEqual({term: 'hello', myarg: 'search'});
+      expect(called).toBeFalsy();
+    }));
+
+    it('updates URL when changing only query params via $state.go() when reloadOnSearch=false', inject(function ($state, $stateParams, $stateSearch, $q, $location, $rootScope){
       initStateTo(RS);
       var called;
       $state.go(".", { term: 'goodbye' });
@@ -242,6 +256,8 @@ describe('state', function () {
       });
       $q.flush();
       expect($stateParams).toEqual({term: 'goodbye'});
+      expect($state.search).toEqual({term: 'goodbye'});
+      expect($stateSearch).toEqual({term: 'goodbye'});
       expect($location.url()).toEqual("/search?term=goodbye");
       expect(called).toBeFalsy();
     }));
@@ -605,7 +621,7 @@ describe('state', function () {
       expect($state.$current.name).toBe('about.sidebar');
     }));
 
-    it('keeps parameters from common ancestor states', inject(function ($state, $stateParams, $q) {
+    it('keeps parameters from common ancestor states', inject(function ($state, $stateParams, $stateSearch, $q) {
       $state.transitionTo('about.person', { person: 'bob' });
       $q.flush();
 
@@ -614,6 +630,7 @@ describe('state', function () {
 
       expect($state.$current.name).toBe('about.person.item');
       expect($stateParams).toEqual({ person: 'bob', id: "5" });
+      expect($stateSearch).toEqual({});
 
       $state.go('^.^.sidebar');
       $q.flush();