diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/email.py b/src/calibre/gui2/email.py
index 7d1def4649..ece6d54e26 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/email.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/email.py
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ class EmailMixin(object): # {{{
             for id in _auto_ids:
                 if specific_format == None:
                     dbfmts = self.library_view.model().db.formats(id, index_is_id=True)
-                    formats = [f.lower() for f in (dbfmts.split(',') if fmts else
+                    formats = [f.lower() for f in (dbfmts.split(',') if dbfmts else
                         [])]
                     if list(set(formats).intersection(available_input_formats())) != [] and list(set(fmts).intersection(available_output_formats())) != []:
                         auto.append(id)