diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/save_template.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/save_template.py
index 47d4510d53..562ef2f1e9 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/save_template.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/save_template.py
@@ -49,7 +49,18 @@ class SaveTemplate(QWidget, Ui_Form):
         self.open_editor.clicked.connect(self.do_open_editor)
 
     def do_open_editor(self):
-        t = TemplateDialog(self, self.opt_template.text(), fm=self.field_metadata)
+        # Try to get selected books
+        from calibre.gui2.ui import get_gui
+        db = get_gui().current_db
+        view = get_gui().library_view
+        rows = view.selectionModel().selectedRows()[0:10]  # Maximum of 10 books
+        mi = [db.new_api.get_proxy_metadata(db.data.index_to_id(x.row())) for x in rows]
+        if not mi:
+            error_dialog(self, _('Must select books'),
+                         _('One or more books must be selected so the template '
+                           'editor can show the template results'), show=True)
+            return
+        t = TemplateDialog(self, self.opt_template.text(), fm=self.field_metadata, mi=mi)
         t.setWindowTitle(_('Edit template'))
         if t.exec():
             self.opt_template.set_value(t.rule[1])
@@ -64,6 +75,9 @@ class SaveTemplate(QWidget, Ui_Form):
         custom fields, because they may or may not exist.
         '''
         tmpl = preprocess_template(self.opt_template.text())
+        # Allow PTM or GPM templates without checking
+        if tmpl.startswith(('program:', 'python:')):
+            return True
         try:
             t = validation_formatter.validate(tmpl)
             if t.find(validation_formatter._validation_string) < 0: