diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/show_quickview.py b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/show_quickview.py
index bacda8492e..d82bacdf49 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/show_quickview.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/show_quickview.py
@@ -164,12 +164,13 @@ class ShowQuickviewAction(InterfaceAction):
         if self.current_instance and not self.current_instance.is_closed:
             self.current_instance.refresh(idx)
 
-    def change_quickview_column(self, idx):
+    def change_quickview_column(self, idx, show=True):
         '''
         Called from the column header context menu to change the QV query column
         '''
-        self.focus_quickview()
-        self.current_instance.slave(idx)
+        if show or (self.current_instance and not self.current_instance.is_closed):
+            self.focus_quickview()
+            self.current_instance.slave(idx)
 
     def library_changed(self, db):
         '''
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.py
index 6847cf0066..e2741a16af 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_list_editor.py
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ class TagListEditor(QDialog, Ui_TagListEditor):
                 current_row = rows[0].row()
                 current_col = view.column_map.index(self.category)
                 index = view.model().index(current_row, current_col)
-                qv.change_quickview_column(index)
+                qv.change_quickview_column(index, show=False)
 
     def copy_to_clipboard(self, item):
         cb = QApplication.clipboard()