diff --git a/python/lancedb/query.py b/python/lancedb/query.py
index dcc72c58..532566da 100644
--- a/python/lancedb/query.py
+++ b/python/lancedb/query.py
@@ -468,6 +468,24 @@ class LanceFtsQueryBuilder(LanceQueryBuilder):
     def __init__(self, table: "lancedb.table.Table", query: str):
         super().__init__(table)
         self._query = query
+        self._phrase_query = False
+
+    def phrase_query(self, phrase_query: bool = True) -> LanceFtsQueryBuilder:
+        """Set whether to use phrase query.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        phrase_query: bool, default True
+            If True, then the query will be wrapped in quotes and
+            double quotes replaced by single quotes.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        LanceFtsQueryBuilder
+            The LanceFtsQueryBuilder object.
+        """
+        self._phrase_query = phrase_query
+        return self
 
     def to_arrow(self) -> pa.Table:
         try:
@@ -490,7 +508,11 @@ class LanceFtsQueryBuilder(LanceQueryBuilder):
         # open the index
         index = tantivy.Index.open(index_path)
         # get the scores and doc ids
-        row_ids, scores = search_index(index, self._query, self._limit)
+        query = self._query
+        if self._phrase_query:
+            query = query.replace('"', "'")
+            query = f'"{query}"'
+        row_ids, scores = search_index(index, query, self._limit)
         if len(row_ids) == 0:
             empty_schema = pa.schema([pa.field("score", pa.float32())])
             return pa.Table.from_pylist([], schema=empty_schema)
diff --git a/python/tests/test_fts.py b/python/tests/test_fts.py
index f65dc4ca..a62b1b2e 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_fts.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_fts.py
@@ -169,13 +169,16 @@ def test_syntax(table):
     table.create_fts_index("text")
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Syntax Error"):
         table.search("they could have been dogs OR cats").limit(10).to_list()
+    table.search("they could have been dogs OR cats").phrase_query().limit(10).to_list()
     # this should work
     table.search('"they could have been dogs OR cats"').limit(10).to_list()
     # this should work too
     table.search('''"the cats OR dogs were not really 'pets' at all"''').limit(
         10
     ).to_list()
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Syntax Error"):
-        table.search('''"the cats OR dogs were not really "pets" at all"''').limit(
-            10
-        ).to_list()
+    table.search('the cats OR dogs were not really "pets" at all').phrase_query().limit(
+        10
+    ).to_list()
+    table.search('the cats OR dogs were not really "pets" at all').phrase_query().limit(
+        10
+    ).to_list()