diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py
index 1d9a048263..0166304af4 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py
@@ -485,9 +485,17 @@ class MetadataSingleDialog(ResizableDialog, Ui_MetadataSingleDialog):
 
 
     def accept(self):
-        if self.formats_changed:
-            self.sync_formats()
-        title = qstring_to_unicode(self.title.text())
+        try:
+            if self.formats_changed:
+                self.sync_formats()
+            title = unicode(self.title.text())
+        except IOError, err:
+            if err.errno == 13: # Permission denied
+                fname = err.filename if err.filename else 'file'
+                return error_dialog(self, _('Permission denied'),
+                        _('Could not open %s. Is it being used by another'
+                        ' program?')%fname, show=True)
+            raise
         self.db.set_title(self.id, title, notify=False)
         au = unicode(self.authors.text())
         if au: