diff --git a/src/calibre/library/database2.py b/src/calibre/library/database2.py
index 1095774070..d55c1e0741 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/database2.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/database2.py
@@ -911,11 +911,18 @@ class LibraryDatabase2(LibraryDatabase, SchemaUpgrade, CustomColumns):
         aum = []
         aus = {}
         aul = {}
-        for (author, author_sort, link) in aut_list:
-            aut = author.replace('|', ',')
-            aum.append(aut)
-            aus[aut] = author_sort.replace('|', ',')
-            aul[aut] = link
+        try:
+            for (author, author_sort, link) in aut_list:
+                aut = author.replace('|', ',')
+                aum.append(aut)
+                aus[aut] = author_sort.replace('|', ',')
+                aul[aut] = link
+        except ValueError:
+            # Author has either ::: or :#: in it
+            for x in row[fm['authors']].split(','):
+                aum.append(x.replace('|', ','))
+                aul[aum[-1]] = ''
+                aus[aum[-1]] = aum[-1]
         mi.title       = row[fm['title']]
         mi.authors     = aum
         mi.author_sort = row[fm['author_sort']]