diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/editor/snippets.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/editor/snippets.py
index e014202613..da4bd07687 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/editor/snippets.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/editor/snippets.py
@@ -421,6 +421,7 @@ class SnippetManager(QObject):
             if snip is None:
                 error_dialog(self.parent(), _('No snippet found'), _(
                     'No matching snippet was found'), show=True)
+                self.last_selected_text = self.last_selected_text or lst
                 return True
             template = expand_template(editor, trigger, snip['template'])
             if template.has_tab_stops: