diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py
index c18ad7dcd4..0d08218790 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/base.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class SafeFormat(TemplateFormatter):
 
     def get_value(self, key, args, kwargs):
         try:
+            key = field_metadata.search_term_to_field_key(key.lower())
             b = self.book.get_user_metadata(key, False)
             if b and b['datatype'] == 'int' and self.book.get(key, 0) == 0:
                 v = ''