diff --git a/Octokit.Tests.Integration/Clients/SearchClientTests.cs b/Octokit.Tests.Integration/Clients/SearchClientTests.cs
index 8a4363b5..f896d1f4 100644
--- a/Octokit.Tests.Integration/Clients/SearchClientTests.cs
+++ b/Octokit.Tests.Integration/Clients/SearchClientTests.cs
@@ -54,4 +54,16 @@ public class SearchClientTests
 
         Assert.NotEmpty(repos.Items);
     }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task SearchForOpenIssues()
+    {
+        var request = new SearchIssuesRequest("phone");
+        request.Repo = "caliburn-micro/caliburn.micro";
+        request.State = ItemState.Open;
+
+        var repos = await _gitHubClient.Search.SearchIssues(request);
+
+        Assert.NotEmpty(repos.Items);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Octokit/Models/Request/IssueRequest.cs b/Octokit/Models/Request/IssueRequest.cs
index 7f67f38c..3be09e80 100644
--- a/Octokit/Models/Request/IssueRequest.cs
+++ b/Octokit/Models/Request/IssueRequest.cs
@@ -73,11 +73,13 @@ namespace Octokit
         /// <summary>
         /// Isuses that are open (default).
         /// </summary>
+        [Parameter(Value = "open")]
         Open,
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Isuses that are closed.
         /// </summary>
+        [Parameter(Value = "closed")]
         Closed
     }
 
diff --git a/Octokit/Models/Request/SearchIssuesRequest.cs b/Octokit/Models/Request/SearchIssuesRequest.cs
index 37e1ec9e..66376779 100644
--- a/Octokit/Models/Request/SearchIssuesRequest.cs
+++ b/Octokit/Models/Request/SearchIssuesRequest.cs
@@ -217,9 +217,9 @@ namespace Octokit
                 parameters.Add(String.Format(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, "involves:{0}", Involves));
             }
 
-            if (State != null)
+            if (State.HasValue)
             {
-                parameters.Add(String.Format(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, "state:{0}", State));
+                parameters.Add(String.Format(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, "state:{0}", State.Value.ToParameter()));
             }
 
             if (Labels != null)