diff --git a/src/calibre/db/notes/connect.py b/src/calibre/db/notes/connect.py
index db170a644d..6d984f9835 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/notes/connect.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/notes/connect.py
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ class Notes:
                         doc, searchable_text, res, old_item_val = (str(x, 'utf-8') for x in parts)
                     else:
                         doc, searchable_text, res = (str(x, 'utf-8') for x in parts)
-                        old_item_val = searchable_text.split('\n')[0]
+                        old_item_val = searchable_text.split('\n', 1)[0]
                 except Exception as err:
                     errors.append(_('Failed to parse document for: {0} with error: {1}').format(old_item_id, err))
                     report_progress('', i)