diff --git a/openerp/addons/test_new_api/models.py b/openerp/addons/test_new_api/models.py
index 50343b0d1fc..00e2681f324 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/test_new_api/models.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/test_new_api/models.py
@@ -164,6 +164,9 @@ class Message(models.Model):
     size = fields.Integer(compute='_compute_size', search='_search_size')
     double_size = fields.Integer(compute='_compute_double_size')
     discussion_name = fields.Char(related='discussion.name')
+    author_partner = fields.Many2one(
+        'res.partner', compute='_compute_author_partner',
+        search='_search_author_partner')
 
     @api.one
     @api.constrains('author', 'discussion')
@@ -209,6 +212,15 @@ class Message(models.Model):
         size = self.size
         self.double_size = self.double_size + size
 
+    @api.one
+    @api.depends('author', 'author.partner_id')
+    def _compute_author_partner(self):
+        self.author_partner = author.partner_id
+
+    @api.model
+    def _search_author_partner(self, operator, value):
+        return [('author.partner_id', operator, value)]
+
 
 class MixedModel(models.Model):
     _name = 'test_new_api.mixed'
diff --git a/openerp/addons/test_new_api/tests/test_new_fields.py b/openerp/addons/test_new_api/tests/test_new_fields.py
index c588ab59aca..59d85b211bf 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/test_new_api/tests/test_new_fields.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/test_new_api/tests/test_new_fields.py
@@ -424,6 +424,13 @@ class TestNewFields(common.TransactionCase):
         defaults = self.env['test_new_api.mixed'].default_get(['number'])
         self.assertEqual(defaults, {'number': 3.14})
 
+    def test_50_search_many2one(self):
+        """ test search through a path of computed fields"""
+        messages = self.env['test_new_api.message'].search(
+            [('author_partner.name', '=', 'Demo User')])
+        self.assertEqual(messages, self.env.ref('test_new_api.message_0_1'))
+
+
 
 class TestMagicFields(common.TransactionCase):
 
diff --git a/openerp/osv/expression.py b/openerp/osv/expression.py
index ef8a40dab90..b71db25eaa3 100644
--- a/openerp/osv/expression.py
+++ b/openerp/osv/expression.py
@@ -842,12 +842,12 @@ class expression(object):
             #    as after transforming the column, it will go through this loop once again
             # ----------------------------------------
 
-            elif len(path) > 1 and column._type == 'many2one' and column._auto_join:
+            elif len(path) > 1 and column and column._type == 'many2one' and column._auto_join:
                 # res_partner.state_id = res_partner__state_id.id
                 leaf.add_join_context(comodel, path[0], 'id', path[0])
                 push(create_substitution_leaf(leaf, (path[1], operator, right), comodel))
 
-            elif len(path) > 1 and column._type == 'one2many' and column._auto_join:
+            elif len(path) > 1 and column and column._type == 'one2many' and column._auto_join:
                 # res_partner.id = res_partner__bank_ids.partner_id
                 leaf.add_join_context(comodel, 'id', column._fields_id, path[0])
                 domain = column._domain(model) if callable(column._domain) else column._domain
@@ -858,16 +858,16 @@ class expression(object):
                         push(create_substitution_leaf(leaf, elem, comodel))
                     push(create_substitution_leaf(leaf, AND_OPERATOR, comodel))
 
-            elif len(path) > 1 and column._auto_join:
+            elif len(path) > 1 and column and column._auto_join:
                 raise NotImplementedError('_auto_join attribute not supported on many2many column %s' % left)
 
-            elif len(path) > 1 and column._type == 'many2one':
+            elif len(path) > 1 and column and column._type == 'many2one':
                 right_ids = comodel.search(cr, uid, [(path[1], operator, right)], context=context)
                 leaf.leaf = (path[0], 'in', right_ids)
                 push(leaf)
 
             # Making search easier when there is a left operand as column.o2m or column.m2m
-            elif len(path) > 1 and column._type in ['many2many', 'one2many']:
+            elif len(path) > 1 and column and column._type in ['many2many', 'one2many']:
                 right_ids = comodel.search(cr, uid, [(path[1], operator, right)], context=context)
                 table_ids = model.search(cr, uid, [(path[0], 'in', right_ids)], context=dict(context, active_test=False))
                 leaf.leaf = ('id', 'in', table_ids)
@@ -884,7 +884,12 @@ class expression(object):
                     domain = []
                 else:
                     # Let the field generate a domain.
-                    recs = model.browse(cr, uid, [], context)
+                    if len(path) > 1:
+                        right = comodel.search(
+                            cr, uid, [(path[1], operator, right)],
+                            context=context)
+                        operator = 'in'
+                    recs = model.browse(cr, uid, [], context=context)
                     domain = field.determine_domain(recs, operator, right)
 
                 if not domain: