diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py
index f4d5d0034c..b33b94def0 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ class MetadataSingleDialog(ResizableDialog, Ui_MetadataSingleDialog):
         title  = qstring_to_unicode(self.title.text())
         try:
             author = string_to_authors(unicode(self.authors.text()))[0]
-        except IndexError:
+        except:
             author = ''
         publisher = qstring_to_unicode(self.publisher.currentText())
         if isbn or title or author or publisher: