diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/documentview.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/documentview.py
index 989e1500d6..a065bfa173 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/documentview.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/documentview.py
@@ -877,6 +877,10 @@ class DocumentView(QWebView):  # {{{
         if self.manager is not None:
             self.manager.link_clicked(url)
 
+    def footnote_link_clicked(self, qurl):
+        path = qurl.toLocalFile()
+        self.link_clicked(self.as_url(path))
+
     def sizeHint(self):
         return self._size_hint
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/footnote.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/footnote.py
index e829eb02ad..ab0fb71bef 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/footnote.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/footnote.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class Footnotes(object):
     def set_footnotes_view(self, fv):
         self.footnotes_view = fv
         self.clone_settings()
-        fv.page().linkClicked.connect(self.view.link_clicked)
+        fv.page().linkClicked.connect(self.view.footnote_link_clicked)
         fv.page().js_loader = self.view.document.js_loader
 
     def clone_settings(self):