diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/icu.py b/src/calibre/utils/icu.py
index 24c3450b97..510ae675ed 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/icu.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/icu.py
@@ -83,10 +83,7 @@ def collator(strength=None, numeric=None, ignore_alternate_chars=None, upper_fir
         if upper_first is not None:
             ans.upper_first = upper_first
         if ignore_alternate_chars is not None:
-            try:
-                ans.set_attribute(_icu.UCOL_ALTERNATE_HANDLING, _icu.UCOL_SHIFTED if ignore_alternate_chars else _icu.UCOL_NON_IGNORABLE)
-            except AttributeError:
-                pass  # people running from source without latest binary
+            ans.set_attribute(_icu.UCOL_ALTERNATE_HANDLING, _icu.UCOL_SHIFTED if ignore_alternate_chars else _icu.UCOL_NON_IGNORABLE)
 
     thread_local_collator_cache.cache[key] = ans
     return ans