diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/formatter_functions.py b/src/calibre/utils/formatter_functions.py
index bc6bdd5370..7665a38fd5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/formatter_functions.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/formatter_functions.py
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ class TranslatedStringWithRaw(str):
 
 
 def _(txt):
-    return TranslatedStringWithRaw(txt, xlated(txt), txt, xlated(txt))
+    translated = xlated(txt)
+    return TranslatedStringWithRaw(txt, translated, txt, translated)
 
 
 class StoredObjectType(Enum):