diff --git a/src/autocomplete/UserProvider.js b/src/autocomplete/UserProvider.js
index b11c79f9c2..e636f95751 100644
--- a/src/autocomplete/UserProvider.js
+++ b/src/autocomplete/UserProvider.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export default class UserProvider extends AutocompleteProvider {
         this.matcher = new FuzzyMatcher([], {
             keys: ['name', 'userId'],
             shouldMatchPrefix: true,
+            shouldMatchWordsOnly: false
         });
 
         this._onRoomTimelineBound = this._onRoomTimeline.bind(this);