diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/last_read.py b/src/calibre/srv/last_read.py
index fc30af9527..6d7597deb1 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/last_read.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/last_read.py
@@ -59,8 +59,7 @@ class LastReadCache:
                     (library_id, book_id, fmt, user, cfi, epoch, pos_frac, tooltip))
                 items = tuple(self.get('SELECT id FROM last_read_positions WHERE user=? ORDER BY id DESC', (user,), all=True))
                 if len(items) > self.limit:
-                    limit_id = items[self.limit][0]
-                    self.execute('DELETE FROM last_read_positions WHERE user=? AND id <= ?', (user, limit_id))
+                    self.execute('DELETE FROM last_read_positions WHERE user=? AND id <= ?', (user, items[self.limit][0]))
                 return epoch
 
     def get_recently_read(self, user):