diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/delegates.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/delegates.py
index f137e5ed99..2d383cdb68 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/delegates.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/delegates.py
@@ -415,10 +415,11 @@ class CcCommentsDelegate(QStyledItemDelegate):  # {{{
         style = QApplication.style() if option.widget is None \
                                                 else option.widget.style()
         self.document.setHtml(option.text)
-        option.text = u''
         style.drawPrimitive(QStyle.PE_PanelItemViewItem, option, painter, widget=option.widget)
         ctx = QAbstractTextDocumentLayout.PaintContext()
         ctx.palette = option.palette
+        if option.state & QStyle.State_Selected:
+            ctx.palette.setColor(ctx.palette.Text, ctx.palette.color(ctx.palette.HighlightedText))
         textRect = style.subElementRect(QStyle.SE_ItemViewItemText, option)
         painter.save()
         painter.translate(textRect.topLeft())