diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_list.py b/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_list.py
index 32c74d3832..458ef1d429 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_list.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_list.py
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ def implementation(
                 data[field] = {k: v.get('isbn') or '' for k, v in x.items()}
                 continue
             if field == 'template':
+                from calibre.utils.formatter import TEMPLATE_ERROR
                 if not template:
                     data['template'] = _('Template not allowed') if is_remote else _('No template specified')
                     continue
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ def implementation(
                     formatter = SafeFormat()
                 for book_id in book_ids:
                     mi = db.get_proxy_metadata(book_id)
-                    vals[book_id] = formatter.safe_format(template, {}, 'TEMPLATE ERROR', mi, global_vars=global_vars)
+                    vals[book_id] = formatter.safe_format(template, {}, TEMPLATE_ERROR, mi, global_vars=global_vars)
                 data['template'] = vals
                 continue
             field = field.replace('*', '#')
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/fields.py b/src/calibre/db/fields.py
index f87ab470d3..f2dfd1e4d2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/fields.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/fields.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from calibre.db.write import Writer
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata import author_to_author_sort, rating_to_stars, title_sort
 from calibre.utils.config_base import tweaks
 from calibre.utils.date import UNDEFINED_DATE, clean_date_for_sort, parse_date
+from calibre.utils.formatter import TEMPLATE_ERROR
 from calibre.utils.icu import sort_key
 from calibre.utils.localization import calibre_langcode_to_name
 
@@ -299,7 +300,7 @@ class CompositeField(OneToOneField):
         ' INTERNAL USE ONLY. DO NOT USE THIS OUTSIDE THIS CLASS! '
         db = self.db_weakref()
         ans = formatter.safe_format(
-            self.metadata['display']['composite_template'], mi, _('TEMPLATE ERROR'),
+            self.metadata['display']['composite_template'], mi, TEMPLATE_ERROR,
             mi, column_name=self._composite_name, template_cache=template_cache,
             template_functions=self.get_template_functions(),
             global_vars={rendering_composite_name:'1'}, database=db).strip()
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py
index c682985b0f..4d04752055 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py
@@ -147,11 +147,12 @@ class Metadata:
             d = _data['user_metadata'][field]
             val = d['#value#']
             if val is None and d['datatype'] == 'composite':
+                from calibre.utils.formatter import TEMPLATE_ERROR
                 d['#value#'] = 'RECURSIVE_COMPOSITE FIELD (Metadata) ' + field
                 val = d['#value#'] = self.formatter.safe_format(
                                             d['display']['composite_template'],
                                             self,
-                                            _('TEMPLATE ERROR'),
+                                            TEMPLATE_ERROR,
                                             self, column_name=field,
                                             template_cache=self.template_cache).strip()
             return val
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/cover_flow.py b/src/calibre/gui2/cover_flow.py
index b823214cb5..22b5b7ec4d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/cover_flow.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/cover_flow.py
@@ -125,9 +125,10 @@ class DatabaseImages(pictureflow.FlowImages):
         return self.model.count()
 
     def render_template(self, template, index, db):
+        from calibre.utils.formatter import TEMPLATE_ERROR
         book_id = self.model.id(index)
         mi = db.get_proxy_metadata(book_id)
-        return mi.formatter.safe_format(template, mi, _('TEMPLATE ERROR'), mi, template_cache=self.template_cache)
+        return mi.formatter.safe_format(template, mi, TEMPLATE_ERROR, mi, template_cache=self.template_cache)
 
     def caption(self, index):
         if self.ignore_image_requests:
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/bookshelf_view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/bookshelf_view.py
index 508b41d320..d70434f81b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/bookshelf_view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/bookshelf_view.py
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ from calibre.gui2.library.caches import CoverThumbnailCache, Thumbnailer
 from calibre.gui2.library.models import BooksModel
 from calibre.gui2.momentum_scroll import MomentumScrollMixin
 from calibre.gui2.palette import dark_palette, light_palette
+from calibre.utils.formatter import TEMPLATE_ERROR
 from calibre.utils.icu import numeric_sort_key
 from calibre.utils.img import resize_to_fit
 from calibre.utils.iso8601 import UNDEFINED_DATE
@@ -84,7 +85,6 @@ from calibre_extensions.progress_indicator import contrast_ratio
 
 
 # Utility functions {{{
-TEMPLATE_ERROR = _('TEMPLATE ERROR')
 
 
 def random_from_id(book_id: int, limit: int = 21) -> int:
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py b/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py
index ec27383504..025cb17fed 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/formatter.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ from calibre.utils.icu import strcmp
 from calibre.utils.localization import _
 from polyglot.builtins import error_message
 
+TEMPLATE_ERROR = _('TEMPLATE ERROR')
+
 
 def default_template_error_reporter(e: Exception, fmt, kwargs, book, column_name: str | None):
     if DEBUG: