diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/comments_editor.py b/src/calibre/gui2/comments_editor.py
index c7f7d8b94a..a594af739e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/comments_editor.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/comments_editor.py
@@ -254,7 +254,8 @@ class EditorWidget(QWebView): # {{{
             f = QFontInfo(QApplication.font(self)).pixelSize()
             style = 'font-size: %dpx;' % (f,)
 
-            for body in self.page().mainFrame().documentElement().findAll('body'):
+            # toList() is needed because PyQt on Debian is old/broken
+            for body in self.page().mainFrame().documentElement().findAll('body').toList():
                 body.setAttribute('style', style)
             self.page().setContentEditable(True)