diff --git a/vmware_nsxlib/tests/unit/v3/test_resources.py b/vmware_nsxlib/tests/unit/v3/test_resources.py
index ef5942ea..08764c84 100644
--- a/vmware_nsxlib/tests/unit/v3/test_resources.py
+++ b/vmware_nsxlib/tests/unit/v3/test_resources.py
@@ -1135,6 +1135,30 @@ class TestNsxSearch(nsxlib_testcase.NsxClientTestCase):
             self.nsxlib.search_by_tags(tags=user_tags)
             search.assert_called_with('search?query=%s' % query)
 
+    def test_nsx_search_tags_scope_only(self):
+        """Test search of resources with the specified tag."""
+        with mock.patch.object(self.nsxlib.client, 'url_get') as search:
+            user_tags = [{'scope': 'user'}]
+            query = self.nsxlib._build_query(tags=user_tags)
+            self.nsxlib.search_by_tags(tags=user_tags)
+            search.assert_called_with('search?query=%s' % query)
+
+    def test_nsx_search_tags_tag_only(self):
+        """Test search of resources with the specified tag."""
+        with mock.patch.object(self.nsxlib.client, 'url_get') as search:
+            user_tags = [{'tag': 'k8s'}]
+            query = self.nsxlib._build_query(tags=user_tags)
+            self.nsxlib.search_by_tags(tags=user_tags)
+            search.assert_called_with('search?query=%s' % query)
+
+    def test_nsx_search_tags_tag_and_scope(self):
+        """Test search of resources with the specified tag."""
+        with mock.patch.object(self.nsxlib.client, 'url_get') as search:
+            user_tags = [{'tag': 'k8s'}, {'scope': 'user'}]
+            query = self.nsxlib._build_query(tags=user_tags)
+            self.nsxlib.search_by_tags(tags=user_tags)
+            search.assert_called_with('search?query=%s' % query)
+
     def test_nsx_search_tags_and_resource_type(self):
         """Test search of specified resource with the specified tag."""
         with mock.patch.object(self.nsxlib.client, 'url_get') as search:
diff --git a/vmware_nsxlib/v3/__init__.py b/vmware_nsxlib/v3/__init__.py
index 5a34d3f3..239eac99 100644
--- a/vmware_nsxlib/v3/__init__.py
+++ b/vmware_nsxlib/v3/__init__.py
@@ -188,13 +188,22 @@ class NsxLibBase(object):
                     operation=msg,
                     details='')
 
-    def _build_query(self, tags):
-        try:
-            return " AND ".join(['tags.scope:%(scope)s AND '
-                                 'tags.tag:%(tag)s' % item for item in tags])
-        except KeyError as e:
-            reason = _('Missing key:%s in tags') % str(e)
+    def _build_tag_query(self, tag):
+        # Validate that the correct keys are used
+        if set(tag.keys()) - set(('scope', 'tag')):
+            reason = _("Only 'scope' and 'tag' keys are supported")
             raise exceptions.NsxSearchInvalidQuery(reason=reason)
+        _scope = tag.get('scope')
+        _tag = tag.get('tag')
+        if _scope and _tag:
+            return 'tags.scope:%s AND tags.tag:%s' % (_scope, _tag)
+        elif _scope:
+            return 'tags.scope:%s' % _scope
+        else:
+            return 'tags.tag:%s' % _tag
+
+    def _build_query(self, tags):
+        return " AND ".join([self._build_tag_query(item) for item in tags])
 
     def get_tag_limits(self):
         try: