diff --git a/packages/@react-aria/i18n/src/useFilter.ts b/packages/@react-aria/i18n/src/useFilter.ts
index aee067ae546..2ced5f0508f 100644
--- a/packages/@react-aria/i18n/src/useFilter.ts
+++ b/packages/@react-aria/i18n/src/useFilter.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export function useFilter(options?: Intl.CollatorOptions): Filter {
   }, [collator]);
 
   let contains = useCallback((string, substring) => {
-    if (substring.length === 0) {
+    if (substring.length === 0 || string.length < substring.length) {
       return true;
     }