diff --git a/jiracli/cli.py b/jiracli/cli.py
index b346b5e..17c9ed3 100644
--- a/jiracli/cli.py
+++ b/jiracli/cli.py
@@ -98,8 +98,7 @@ def version(client):
 @click.option('--flagged/--not-flagged', is_flag=True, default=None, help='Filter issues being flagged or not flagged')
 @click.option('--order', help='Sort by this field')
 @click.option('--asc/--desc', 'asc', help='Sort ascending/descending. Default: descending')
-@click.option('--jql', default='', help='Provide your own JQL query to search for issues. '
-              'Setting this ignores all other query options except --project.')
+@click.option('--jql', help='Provide your own JQL query string to include in the search via AND.')
 @pass_client
 @pass_config
 def issues(config, client, project, components, status, labels, texts, flagged, order, asc, jql):
@@ -110,50 +109,48 @@ def issues(config, client, project, components, status, labels, texts, flagged,
     # TODO add filtering by created since
     # TODO add filtering by updated
     # TODO support pagination I guess? i.e. a limit
-    if not jql:
-        filters = []
+    filters = []
 
-        if texts:
-            texts_jql = ' AND '.join([f'text ~ "{text}"' for text in texts])
-            filters.append(f"( {texts_jql} )")
+    if jql:
+        filters.append(jql)
 
-        if components:
-            component_list = ', '.join([f'"{c}"' for c in components])
-            components_jql = f"component in ({component_list})"
-            filters.append(components_jql)
+    if texts:
+        texts_jql = ' AND '.join([f'text ~ "{text}"' for text in texts])
+        filters.append(f"( {texts_jql} )")
 
-        if status:
-            status_list = ', '.join([f'"{s}"' for s in status if not s.startswith('!')])
-            if status_list:
-                status_jql = f"status IN ({status_list})"
-                filters.append(status_jql)
-            status_list = ', '.join([f'"{s[1:]}"' for s in status if s.startswith('!')])
-            if status_list:
-                status_jql = f"status NOT IN ({status_list})"
-                filters.append(status_jql)
+    if components:
+        component_list = ', '.join([f'"{c}"' for c in components])
+        components_jql = f"component in ({component_list})"
+        filters.append(components_jql)
 
-        if labels:
-            labels_jql = ' AND '.join([f'labels = "{label}"' for label in labels])
-            filters.append(f"( {labels_jql} )")
+    if status:
+        status_list = ', '.join([f'"{s}"' for s in status if not s.startswith('!')])
+        if status_list:
+            status_jql = f"status IN ({status_list})"
+            filters.append(status_jql)
+        status_list = ', '.join([f'"{s[1:]}"' for s in status if s.startswith('!')])
+        if status_list:
+            status_jql = f"status NOT IN ({status_list})"
+            filters.append(status_jql)
 
-        if flagged is not None:
-            if flagged:
-                flagged_jql = 'flagged IS NOT EMPTY'
-            else:
-                flagged_jql = 'flagged IS EMPTY'
-            filters.append(flagged_jql)
+    if labels:
+        labels_jql = ' AND '.join([f'labels = "{label}"' for label in labels])
+        filters.append(f"( {labels_jql} )")
 
-        if project:
-            filters.append(project_jql)
+    if flagged is not None:
+        if flagged:
+            flagged_jql = 'flagged IS NOT EMPTY'
+        else:
+            flagged_jql = 'flagged IS EMPTY'
+        filters.append(flagged_jql)
 
-        jql = ' AND '.join(filters)
+    if project:
+        filters.append(project_jql)
 
-        if order:
-            jql += f" ORDER BY {order} {'ASC' if asc else 'DESC'}"
+    jql = ' AND '.join(filters)
 
-    else:
-        if project:
-            jql = f"project = {project} AND {jql}"
+    if order:
+        jql += f" ORDER BY {order} {'ASC' if asc else 'DESC'}"
 
     print(f"Searching with query: {jql}")
     issues = client.search_issues(jql)