diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/comments_editor.py b/src/calibre/gui2/comments_editor.py
index 0325a36826..3c4e70ce16 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/comments_editor.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/comments_editor.py
@@ -457,7 +457,8 @@ class EditorWidget(QTextEdit, LineEditECM):  # {{{
 
     def do_alignment(self, which):
         with self.editing_cursor() as c:
-            fmt = QTextBlockFormat()
+            c = self.textCursor()
+            fmt = c.blockFormat()
             fmt.setAlignment(which)
             c.setBlockFormat(fmt)