diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/bookshelf_view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/bookshelf_view.py
index f57ef53e4e..ab4d336979 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/bookshelf_view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/bookshelf_view.py
@@ -1456,7 +1456,7 @@ class BookshelfView(MomentumScrollMixin, QAbstractScrollArea):
         mi = self.dbref().get_proxy_metadata(book_id)
         rslt = mi.formatter.safe_format(
             self.template_author, mi, TEMPLATE_ERROR, mi, column_name='authors', template_cache=self.template_cache)
-        return rslt or _('Unknown')
+        return rslt or ''
 
     # Miscellaneous methods