diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/create_custom_column.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/create_custom_column.py
index 7896d85fe7..c354e1cc99 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/create_custom_column.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/create_custom_column.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class CreateCustomColumn(QDialog, Ui_QCreateCustomColumn):
             self.composite_box.setText(
                 {
                     'isbn': '{identifiers:select(isbn)}',
-                    'formats': '{formats}',
+                    'formats': "{:'approximate_formats()'}",
                     }[which])
             self.composite_sort_by.setCurrentIndex(0)