diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cache.py b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
index aeceafbb8b..5b9243a7b7 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cache.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
@@ -1086,17 +1086,18 @@ class Cache(object):
         return self._search_api(self, query, restriction, virtual_fields=virtual_fields, book_ids=book_ids)
 
     @read_api
-    def books_in_virtual_library(self, vl, search_restriction=None):
+    def books_in_virtual_library(self, vl, search_restriction=None, virtual_fields=None):
         ' Return the set of books in the specified virtual library '
         vl = self._pref('virtual_libraries', {}).get(vl) if vl else None
         if not vl and not search_restriction:
             return self.all_book_ids()
         # We utilize the search restriction cache to speed this up
+        srch = partial(self._search, virtual_fields=virtual_fields)
         if vl:
             if search_restriction:
-                return frozenset(self._search('', vl) & self._search('', search_restriction))
-            return frozenset(self._search('', vl))
-        return frozenset(self._search('', search_restriction))
+                return frozenset(srch('', vl) & srch('', search_restriction))
+            return frozenset(srch('', vl))
+        return frozenset(srch('', search_restriction))
 
     @read_api
     def number_of_books_in_virtual_library(self, vl=None, search_restriction=None):
@@ -2214,8 +2215,11 @@ class Cache(object):
             c = defaultdict(list)
             libraries = self._pref('virtual_libraries', {})
             for lib, expr in libraries.items():
-                for book in self._search(expr, virtual_fields=virtual_fields):
-                    c[book].append(lib)
+                try:
+                    for book in self._search(expr, virtual_fields=virtual_fields):
+                        c[book].append(lib)
+                except Exception as e:
+                    c[book].append(_('[Error in virtual library {0}: {1}]').format(lib, str(e)))
             self.vls_for_books_cache = {b:tuple(sorted(libs, key=sort_key)) for b, libs in c.items()}
         if not book_ids:
             book_ids = self._all_book_ids()
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/search.py b/src/calibre/db/search.py
index c8f69d9f04..246264b9ef 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/search.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/search.py
@@ -513,7 +513,8 @@ class Parser(SearchQueryParser):  # {{{
             if not vl:
                 raise ParseException(_('No such Virtual library: {}').format(query))
             try:
-                return candidates & self.dbcache.books_in_virtual_library(query)
+                return candidates & self.dbcache.books_in_virtual_library(
+                            query, virtual_fields=self.virtual_fields)
             except RuntimeError:
                 raise ParseException(_('Virtual library search is recursive: {}').format(query))
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/model.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/model.py
index c05c638d71..4f38e57d2b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/model.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/model.py
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ class TagsModel(QAbstractItemModel):  # {{{
     search_item_renamed = pyqtSignal()
     tag_item_renamed = pyqtSignal()
     refresh_required = pyqtSignal()
-    restriction_error = pyqtSignal()
+    restriction_error = pyqtSignal(object)
     drag_drop_finished = pyqtSignal(object)
     user_categories_edited = pyqtSignal(object, object)
     user_category_added = pyqtSignal()
@@ -1113,12 +1113,11 @@ class TagsModel(QAbstractItemModel):  # {{{
             data = self.db.new_api.get_categories(sort=sort,
                     book_ids=self.get_book_ids_to_use(),
                     first_letter_sort=self.collapse_model == 'first letter')
-        except:
-            import traceback
+        except Exception as e:
             traceback.print_exc()
             data = self.db.new_api.get_categories(sort=sort,
                     first_letter_sort=self.collapse_model == 'first letter')
-            self.restriction_error.emit()
+            self.restriction_error.emit(str(e))
 
         if self.filter_categories_by:
             if self.filter_categories_by.startswith('='):
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py
index 2b95377ea6..eb9cbcda79 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/ui.py
@@ -99,9 +99,10 @@ class TagBrowserMixin(object):  # {{{
     def user_categories_edited(self):
         self.library_view.model().refresh()
 
-    def do_restriction_error(self):
+    def do_restriction_error(self, e):
         error_dialog(self.tags_view, _('Invalid search restriction'),
-                         _('The current search restriction is invalid'), show=True)
+                         _('The current search restriction is invalid'),
+                         det_msg=str(e) if e else '', show=True)
 
     def do_add_subcategory(self, on_category_key, new_category_name=None):
         '''
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/view.py
index 6159cf695f..715adae45f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_browser/view.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class TagsView(QTreeView):  # {{{
     tag_item_renamed        = pyqtSignal()
     search_item_renamed     = pyqtSignal()
     drag_drop_finished      = pyqtSignal(object)
-    restriction_error       = pyqtSignal()
+    restriction_error       = pyqtSignal(object)
     tag_item_delete         = pyqtSignal(object, object, object, object, object)
     tag_identifier_delete   = pyqtSignal(object, object)
     apply_tag_to_selected   = pyqtSignal(object, object, object)