diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/model.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/model.py
index 71c8f8139c..f3d3bb178f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/model.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/model.py
@@ -560,19 +560,24 @@ class TagsModel(QAbstractItemModel):  # {{{
                                 '5state' if tag.category != 'search' else '3state'
                         else:
                             if i < len(components)-1:
-                                t = copy.copy(tag)
-                                t.original_name = '.'.join(components[:i+1])
-                                t.count = 0
-                                if key != 'search':
-                                    # This 'manufactured' intermediate node can
-                                    # be searched, but cannot be edited.
-                                    t.is_editable = False
-                                else:
-                                    t.is_searchable = t.is_editable = False
+                                original_name = '.'.join(components[:i+1])
+                                t = self.intermediate_nodes.get((original_name, tag.category), None)
+                                if t is None:
+                                    t = copy.copy(tag)
+                                    t.original_name = original_name
+                                    t.count = 0
+                                    if key != 'search':
+                                        # This 'manufactured' intermediate node can
+                                        # be searched, but cannot be edited.
+                                        t.is_editable = False
+                                    else:
+                                        t.is_searchable = t.is_editable = False
+                                    self.intermediate_nodes[(original_name, tag.category)] = t
                             else:
                                 t = tag
                                 if not in_uc:
                                     t.original_name = t.name
+                                self.intermediate_nodes[(t.original_name, tag.category)] = t
                             t.is_hierarchical = \
                                 '5state' if t.category != 'search' else '3state'
                             t.name = comp
@@ -587,6 +592,7 @@ class TagsModel(QAbstractItemModel):  # {{{
 
         # Build the entire node tree. Note that category_nodes is in field
         # metadata order so the user categories will be at the end
+        self.intermediate_nodes = {}
         for category in self.category_nodes:
             process_one_node(category, collapse_model,
                              state_map.get(category.category_key, {}))