diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/nook/driver.py b/src/calibre/devices/nook/driver.py
index c74a964648..16bf9479d8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/nook/driver.py
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/nook/driver.py
@@ -86,4 +86,5 @@ class NOOK(USBMS):
 
         return drives
 
-
+    def sanitize_path_components(self, components):
+        return [x.replace('#', '_') for x in components]
diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/usbms/device.py b/src/calibre/devices/usbms/device.py
index ab91de2abf..6ddfc81cf3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/usbms/device.py
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/usbms/device.py
@@ -782,6 +782,13 @@ class Device(DeviceConfig, DevicePlugin):
         '''
         return default
 
+    def sanitize_path_components(self, components):
+        '''
+        Perform any device specific sanitization on the path components
+        for files to be uploaded to the device
+        '''
+        return components
+
     def create_upload_path(self, path, mdata, fname):
         path = os.path.abspath(path)
         extra_components = []
@@ -834,6 +841,7 @@ class Device(DeviceConfig, DevicePlugin):
 
         extra_components = list(map(remove_trailing_periods, extra_components))
         components = shorten_components_to(250 - len(path), extra_components)
+        components = self.sanitize_path_components(components)
         filepath = os.path.join(path, *components)
         filedir = os.path.dirname(filepath)