diff --git a/nominatim/api/search/token_assignment.py b/nominatim/api/search/token_assignment.py
index d94d6903..b874dcd7 100644
--- a/nominatim/api/search/token_assignment.py
+++ b/nominatim/api/search/token_assignment.py
@@ -132,6 +132,11 @@ class _TokenSequence:
 
         # Name tokens are always acceptable and don't change direction
         if ttype == qmod.TokenType.PARTIAL:
+            # qualifiers cannot appear in the middle of the qeury. They need
+            # to be near the next phrase.
+            if self.direction == -1 \
+               and any(t.ttype == qmod.TokenType.QUALIFIER for t in self.seq[:-1]):
+                return None
             return self.direction
 
         # Other tokens may only appear once
diff --git a/test/python/api/search/test_token_assignment.py b/test/python/api/search/test_token_assignment.py
index 2ed55a0f..54e8af14 100644
--- a/test/python/api/search/test_token_assignment.py
+++ b/test/python/api/search/test_token_assignment.py
@@ -337,3 +337,14 @@ def test_qualifier_after_housenumber():
                    (BreakType.WORD, PhraseType.NONE, [(3, TokenType.PARTIAL)]))
 
     check_assignments(yield_token_assignments(q))
+
+
+def test_qualifier_in_middle_of_phrase():
+    q = make_query((BreakType.START, PhraseType.NONE, [(1, TokenType.PARTIAL)]),
+                   (BreakType.PHRASE, PhraseType.NONE, [(2, TokenType.PARTIAL)]),
+                   (BreakType.WORD, PhraseType.NONE, [(3, TokenType.QUALIFIER)]),
+                   (BreakType.WORD, PhraseType.NONE, [(4, TokenType.PARTIAL)]),
+                   (BreakType.PHRASE, PhraseType.NONE, [(5, TokenType.PARTIAL)]))
+
+    check_assignments(yield_token_assignments(q))
+