diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
index 0b2e919bc2..0aad9cadee 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ class StatusBar(QStatusBar):  # {{{
         else:
             base = _('%d books') % self.total
         if self.selected > 0:
-            base = _('%(num)s, %(sel)d selected') % dict(num=base, sel=self.selected)
+            base = ngettext('%(num)s, %(sel)d selected', '%(num)s, %(sel)d selected', self.selected) % dict(num=base, sel=self.selected)
         if self.library_total != self.total:
             base = _('{0}, {1} total').format(base, self.library_total)