diff --git a/wagtail/wagtaildocs/models.py b/wagtail/wagtaildocs/models.py
index bc4fe939e8..61d44fb22e 100644
--- a/wagtail/wagtaildocs/models.py
+++ b/wagtail/wagtaildocs/models.py
@@ -16,6 +16,16 @@ from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
 from wagtail.wagtailadmin.taggable import TagSearchable
 from wagtail.wagtailadmin.utils import get_object_usage
 from wagtail.wagtailsearch import index
+from wagtail.wagtailsearch.backends import get_search_backend
+
+
+class DocumentQuerySet(models.QuerySet):
+    def search(self, query_string, fields=None, backend='default'):
+        """
+        This runs a search query on all the documents in the QuerySet
+        """
+        search_backend = get_search_backend(backend)
+        return search_backend.search(query_string, self, fields=fields)
 
 
 @python_2_unicode_compatible
@@ -27,6 +37,8 @@ class Document(models.Model, TagSearchable):
 
     tags = TaggableManager(help_text=None, blank=True, verbose_name=_('Tags'))
 
+    objects = DocumentQuerySet.as_manager()
+
     search_fields = TagSearchable.search_fields + (
         index.FilterField('uploaded_by_user'),
     )
diff --git a/wagtail/wagtaildocs/tests.py b/wagtail/wagtaildocs/tests.py
index c1f0381307..660e615c2c 100644
--- a/wagtail/wagtaildocs/tests.py
+++ b/wagtail/wagtaildocs/tests.py
@@ -25,6 +25,16 @@ from wagtail.wagtaildocs import models
 from wagtail.wagtaildocs.rich_text import DocumentLinkHandler
 
 
+class TestImageQuerySet(TestCase):
+    def test_search_method(self):
+        # Make a test document
+        document = models.Document.objects.create(title="Test document")
+
+        # Search for it
+        results = models.Document.objects.search("Test")
+        self.assertEqual(list(results), [document])
+
+
 class TestDocumentPermissions(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         # Create some user accounts for testing permissions