diff --git a/jira/client.py b/jira/client.py
index 0af6c29a3..847c7108f 100644
--- a/jira/client.py
+++ b/jira/client.py
@@ -2870,7 +2870,7 @@ def search_issues(
         startAt: int = 0,
         maxResults: int = 50,
         validate_query: bool = True,
-        fields: Optional[Union[str, List[str]]] = None,
+        fields: Optional[Union[str, List[str]]] = "*all",
         expand: Optional[str] = None,
         json_result: bool = False,
     ) -> Union[List[Dict[str, Any]], ResultList[Issue]]:
@@ -2895,8 +2895,6 @@ def search_issues(
         """
         if isinstance(fields, str):
             fields = fields.split(",")
-        else:
-            fields = list(fields or [])
 
         # this will translate JQL field names to REST API Name
         # most people do know the JQL names so this will help them use the API easier
diff --git a/tests/resources/test_issue.py b/tests/resources/test_issue.py
index 85131f3d9..a1199ba0d 100644
--- a/tests/resources/test_issue.py
+++ b/tests/resources/test_issue.py
@@ -26,6 +26,29 @@ def test_issue(self):
         self.assertEqual(issue.key, self.issue_1)
         self.assertEqual(issue.fields.summary, "issue 1 from %s" % self.project_b)
 
+    def test_issue_search_finds_issue(self):
+        issues = self.jira.search_issues("key=%s" % self.issue_1)
+        self.assertEqual(self.issue_1, issues[0].key)
+
+    def test_issue_search_return_type(self):
+        issues = self.jira.search_issues("key=%s" % self.issue_1)
+        self.assertIsInstance(issues, list)
+        issues = self.jira.search_issues("key=%s" % self.issue_1, json_result=True)
+        self.assertIsInstance(issues, dict)
+
+    def test_issue_search_only_includes_provided_fields(self):
+        issues = self.jira.search_issues(
+            "key=%s" % self.issue_1, fields="comment,assignee"
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(hasattr(issues[0].fields, "comment"))
+        self.assertTrue(hasattr(issues[0].fields, "assignee"))
+        self.assertFalse(hasattr(issues[0].fields, "reporter"))
+
+    def test_issue_search_default_behaviour_included_fields(self):
+        issues = self.jira.search_issues("key=%s" % self.issue_1)
+        self.assertTrue(hasattr(issues[0].fields, "reporter"))
+        self.assertTrue(hasattr(issues[0].fields, "comment"))
+
     def test_issue_get_field(self):
         issue = self.jira.issue(self.issue_1)
         self.assertEqual(