diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cache.py b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
index 6caa277508..07b191d4f6 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cache.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
@@ -107,9 +107,6 @@ class Cache(object):
 
         self._search_api = Search(self, 'saved_searches', self.field_metadata.get_search_terms())
         self.initialize_dynamic()
-        if self.backend.custom_columns_deleted:
-            self.mark_as_dirty(self.all_book_ids())
-        self.backend.custom_columns_deleted = False
 
     @write_api
     def initialize_dynamic(self):
@@ -309,6 +306,9 @@ class Cache(object):
                     field.author_sort_field = self.fields['author_sort']
                 elif name == 'title':
                     field.title_sort_field = self.fields['sort']
+        if self.backend.custom_columns_deleted:
+            self.mark_as_dirty(self.all_book_ids())
+        self.backend.custom_columns_deleted = False
 
     @read_api
     def field_for(self, name, book_id, default_value=None):