diff --git a/mopidy/backends/__init__.py b/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
index 692185ca..55da11c2 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class BaseLibraryController(object):
         """
         Search the library for tracks where ``type`` contains ``query``.
 
-        :param type: 'track', 'artist', 'album', or 'uri'
+        :param type: 'track', 'artist', 'album', 'uri', and 'any'
         :type type: string
         :param query: the search query
         :type query: string
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/despotify.py b/mopidy/backends/despotify.py
index 06159db0..e8a78752 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/despotify.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/despotify.py
@@ -41,9 +41,15 @@ class DespotifyLibraryController(BaseLibraryController):
         return self.backend.translate.to_mopidy_track(track)
 
     def search(self, type, what):
-        query = u'%s:%s' % (type, what)
+        if type == u'track':
+            type = u'title'
+        if type == u'any':
+            query = what
+        else:
+            query = u'%s:%s' % (type, what)
         result = self.backend.spotify.search(query.encode(ENCODING))
-        if result is None:
+        if (result is None or result.playlist.tracks[0].get_uri() ==
+                'spotify:track:0000000000000000000000'):
             return Playlist()
         return self.backend.translate.to_mopidy_playlist(result.playlist)
 
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/libspotify.py b/mopidy/backends/libspotify.py
index bfe2e4db..8a2218b8 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/libspotify.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/libspotify.py
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ class LibspotifyLibraryController(BaseLibraryController):
         # FIXME When searching while playing music, this is really slow, like
         # 12-14s between querying and getting results.
         self._search_results_received.clear()
-        query = u'%s:%s' % (type, what)
+        if type is u'any':
+            query = what
+        else:
+            query = u'%s:%s' % (type, what)
         def callback(results, userdata):
             logger.debug(u'Search results received')
             self._search_results = results