diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.py
index 62adffc416..f7f2efa9f7 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/edit_authors_dialog.py
@@ -231,13 +231,13 @@ class EditAuthorsDialog(QDialog, Ui_EditAuthorsDialog):
         # Position on the desired item
         if id_to_select:
             select_item = None
-            use_as = tweaks['categories_use_field_for_author_name']
+            use_as = tweaks['categories_use_field_for_author_name'] == 'author_sort'
             for row in range(0, len(auts_to_show)):
                 if is_first_letter:
                     item_txt = unicode_type(self.table.item(row, 1).text() if use_as
                                                 else self.table.item(row, 0).text())
                     if primary_startswith(item_txt, id_to_select):
-                        select_item = self.table.item(row, 1)
+                        select_item = self.table.item(row, 1 if use_as else 0)
                         break
                 elif id_to_select == self.table.item(row, 0).data(Qt.UserRole):
                     if select_sort:
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py
index d1da7709ae..67685f0122 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py
@@ -398,7 +398,6 @@ class TagBrowserMixin(object):  # {{{
             for t in get_authors_func(use_virtual_library=False):
                 if t[1] == id_:
                     id_ = t[0]
-                    select_sort = True
                     break
         editor = EditAuthorsDialog(parent, db, id_, select_sort, select_link,
                                    get_authors_func, is_first_letter)