diff --git a/docs/config.go b/docs/config.go
index 5ab3e08cc..edae558e4 100644
--- a/docs/config.go
+++ b/docs/config.go
@@ -300,14 +300,17 @@ func splitReposName(reposName string) (string, string) {
 }
 
 // NewRepositoryInfo validates and breaks down a repository name into a RepositoryInfo
-func (config *ServiceConfig) NewRepositoryInfo(reposName string) (*RepositoryInfo, error) {
+func (config *ServiceConfig) NewRepositoryInfo(reposName string, bySearch bool) (*RepositoryInfo, error) {
 	if err := validateNoSchema(reposName); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	indexName, remoteName := splitReposName(reposName)
-	if err := validateRemoteName(remoteName); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+
+	if !bySearch {
+		if err := validateRemoteName(remoteName); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	repoInfo := &RepositoryInfo{
@@ -359,7 +362,18 @@ func (repoInfo *RepositoryInfo) GetSearchTerm() string {
 // ParseRepositoryInfo performs the breakdown of a repository name into a RepositoryInfo, but
 // lacks registry configuration.
 func ParseRepositoryInfo(reposName string) (*RepositoryInfo, error) {
-	return emptyServiceConfig.NewRepositoryInfo(reposName)
+	return emptyServiceConfig.NewRepositoryInfo(reposName, false)
+}
+
+// ParseIndexInfo will use repository name to get back an indexInfo.
+func ParseIndexInfo(reposName string) (*IndexInfo, error) {
+	indexName, _ := splitReposName(reposName)
+
+	indexInfo, err := emptyServiceConfig.NewIndexInfo(indexName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return indexInfo, nil
 }
 
 // NormalizeLocalName transforms a repository name into a normalize LocalName
diff --git a/docs/service.go b/docs/service.go
index 1335fe3a0..6ac930d6e 100644
--- a/docs/service.go
+++ b/docs/service.go
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ func (s *Service) Auth(authConfig *cliconfig.AuthConfig) (string, error) {
 // Search queries the public registry for images matching the specified
 // search terms, and returns the results.
 func (s *Service) Search(term string, authConfig *cliconfig.AuthConfig, headers map[string][]string) (*SearchResults, error) {
-	repoInfo, err := s.ResolveRepository(term)
+
+	repoInfo, err := s.ResolveRepositoryBySearch(term)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -75,7 +76,13 @@ func (s *Service) Search(term string, authConfig *cliconfig.AuthConfig, headers
 // ResolveRepository splits a repository name into its components
 // and configuration of the associated registry.
 func (s *Service) ResolveRepository(name string) (*RepositoryInfo, error) {
-	return s.Config.NewRepositoryInfo(name)
+	return s.Config.NewRepositoryInfo(name, false)
+}
+
+// ResolveRepositoryBySearch splits a repository name into its components
+// and configuration of the associated registry.
+func (s *Service) ResolveRepositoryBySearch(name string) (*RepositoryInfo, error) {
+	return s.Config.NewRepositoryInfo(name, true)
 }
 
 // ResolveIndex takes indexName and returns index info