diff --git a/src/calibre/db/backup.py b/src/calibre/db/backup.py
index db9e4931c9..2218956ba9 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/backup.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/backup.py
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ class MetadataBackup(Thread):
             try:
                 self.db.check_dirtied_annotations()
             except Exception:
+                if self.stop_running.is_set():
+                    return
                 traceback.print_exc()
         try:
             book_id = self.db.get_a_dirtied_book()