diff --git a/planet/cli/data.py b/planet/cli/data.py
index 5f1385035..d2cea4cc5 100644
--- a/planet/cli/data.py
+++ b/planet/cli/data.py
@@ -218,12 +218,8 @@ def filter(ctx,
             else:
                 filters.append(f)
 
-    if filters:
-        if len(filters) > 1:
-            filt = data_filter.and_filter(filters)
-        else:
-            filt = filters[0]
-        echo_json(filt, pretty)
+    filt = data_filter.and_filter(filters)
+    echo_json(filt, pretty)
 
 
 @data.command()
diff --git a/planet/clients/data.py b/planet/clients/data.py
index 471f2f443..94266c04f 100644
--- a/planet/clients/data.py
+++ b/planet/clients/data.py
@@ -109,6 +109,21 @@ async def search(self,
         `name` parameter of the search defaults to the id of the generated
         search id if `name` is not specified.
 
+        To filter to items you have access to download which are of standard
+        (aka not test) quality, use the following:
+
+        ```python
+        >>> from planet import data_filter
+        >>> data_filter.and_filter([
+        ...     data_filter.permission_filter(),
+        ...     data_filter.std_quality_filter()
+        >>> ])
+
+        ```
+
+        To avoid filtering out any imagery, supply a blank AndFilter, which can
+        be created with `data_filter.and_filter([])`.
+
         Example:
 
         ```python
@@ -176,6 +191,22 @@ async def create_search(self,
                             enable_email: bool = False) -> dict:
         """Create a new saved structured item search.
 
+        To filter to items you have access to download which are of standard
+        (aka not test) quality, use the following:
+
+        ```python
+        >>> from planet import data_filter
+        >>> data_filter.and_filter([
+        ...     data_filter.permission_filter(),
+        ...     data_filter.std_quality_filter()
+        >>> ])
+
+        ```
+
+        To avoid filtering out any imagery, supply a blank AndFilter, which can
+        be created with `data_filter.and_filter([])`.
+
+
         Parameters:
             name: The name of the saved search.
             item_types: The item types to include in the search.
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_data_cli.py b/tests/integration/test_data_cli.py
index 60a1a6439..62eabf10d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_data_cli.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_data_cli.py
@@ -105,13 +105,8 @@ def test_data_filter_defaults(permission,
     assert result.exit_code == 0
 
     [default_filters.remove(rem) for rem in [p_remove, s_remove] if rem]
-    if len(default_filters) > 1:
-        expected_filt = {"type": "AndFilter", "config": default_filters}
-        assert_and_filters_equal(json.loads(result.output), expected_filt)
-    elif len(default_filters) == 1:
-        assert json.loads(result.output) == default_filters[0]
-    else:
-        assert result.output == ''
+    expected_filt = {"type": "AndFilter", "config": default_filters}
+    assert_and_filters_equal(json.loads(result.output), expected_filt)
 
 
 @respx.mock