diff --git a/RELEASE-NOTES.md b/RELEASE-NOTES.md
index dbff38cea..4528e2485 100644
--- a/RELEASE-NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE-NOTES.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 **Critical Bugs**
 - **API** - Fixed bug causing `cache: 'local'` not to return the localstorage cached results in some cases
 - **API** - Fixes bug where `beforeSend` would not correctly cancel request when `return false;` is used in callback. #3660
+- **Dropdown** - Fixed bug where `search selection` would not let you move back in an entered search string with left arrow #3596
 -**Form Validation / Dropdown** - Fixed issue where using "enter" key in a `search dropdown` could cause a form to be submitted #3676
 -**Divider** - Fixed issue where descenders like "g" would be cut off in `horizontal divider` #3585
 
diff --git a/src/definitions/modules/dropdown.js b/src/definitions/modules/dropdown.js
index 99a2e2394..087e5cc1a 100644
--- a/src/definitions/modules/dropdown.js
+++ b/src/definitions/modules/dropdown.js
@@ -1191,38 +1191,41 @@ $.fn.dropdown = function(parameters) {
                   event.preventDefault();
                 }
 
-                // left arrow (hide sub-menu)
-                if(pressedKey == keys.leftArrow) {
+                // sub-menu actions
+                if(hasSelectedItem) {
 
-                  isSubMenuItem = ($parentMenu[0] !== $menu[0]);
+                  if(pressedKey == keys.leftArrow) {
 
-                  if(isSubMenuItem) {
-                    module.verbose('Left key pressed, closing sub-menu');
-                    module.animate.hide(false, $parentMenu);
-                    $selectedItem
-                      .removeClass(className.selected)
-                    ;
-                    $parentMenu
-                      .closest(selector.item)
-                        .addClass(className.selected)
-                    ;
-                    event.preventDefault();
+                    isSubMenuItem = ($parentMenu[0] !== $menu[0]);
+
+                    if(isSubMenuItem) {
+                      module.verbose('Left key pressed, closing sub-menu');
+                      module.animate.hide(false, $parentMenu);
+                      $selectedItem
+                        .removeClass(className.selected)
+                      ;
+                      $parentMenu
+                        .closest(selector.item)
+                          .addClass(className.selected)
+                      ;
+                      event.preventDefault();
+                    }
                   }
-                }
 
-                // right arrow (show sub-menu)
-                if(pressedKey == keys.rightArrow) {
-                  if(hasSubMenu) {
-                    module.verbose('Right key pressed, opening sub-menu');
-                    module.animate.show(false, $subMenu);
-                    $selectedItem
-                      .removeClass(className.selected)
-                    ;
-                    $subMenu
-                      .find(selector.item).eq(0)
-                        .addClass(className.selected)
-                    ;
-                    event.preventDefault();
+                  // right arrow (show sub-menu)
+                  if(pressedKey == keys.rightArrow) {
+                    if(hasSubMenu) {
+                      module.verbose('Right key pressed, opening sub-menu');
+                      module.animate.show(false, $subMenu);
+                      $selectedItem
+                        .removeClass(className.selected)
+                      ;
+                      $subMenu
+                        .find(selector.item).eq(0)
+                          .addClass(className.selected)
+                      ;
+                      event.preventDefault();
+                    }
                   }
                 }