diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/pdf.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/pdf.py
index ab40c5d80c..47df33c415 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/pdf.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/pdf.py
@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@ def read_info(outputdir, get_cover):
     try:
         raw = subprocess.check_output([pdfinfo, '-meta', 'src.pdf']).strip()
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-        prints('pdfinfo errored out with return code: %d'%e.returncode)
-
-    parts = re.split(br'^Metadata:', raw, 1, flags=re.MULTILINE)
-    if len(parts) > 1:
-        # old poppler < 0.47.0
-        ans['xmp_metadata'] = parts[1]
-    elif raw:
-        ans['xmp_metadata'] = raw
+        prints('pdfinfo failed to read XML metadata with return code: %d'%e.returncode)
+    else:
+        parts = re.split(br'^Metadata:', raw, 1, flags=re.MULTILINE)
+        if len(parts) > 1:
+            # old poppler < 0.47.0
+            raw = parts[1].strip()
+        if raw:
+            ans['xmp_metadata'] = raw
 
     if get_cover:
         try: