diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/template_dialog.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/template_dialog.py
index d48dd313c1..aa1a17144b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/template_dialog.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/template_dialog.py
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@ class TemplateDialog(QDialog, Ui_TemplateDialog):
 
     def __init__(self, parent, text, mi=None, fm=None, color_field=None,
                  icon_field_key=None, icon_rule_kind=None, doing_emblem=False,
-                 text_is_placeholder=False, dialog_is_st_editor=False):
+                 text_is_placeholder=False, dialog_is_st_editor=False,
+                 global_vars={}):
         QDialog.__init__(self, parent)
         Ui_TemplateDialog.__init__(self)
         self.setupUi(self)
@@ -222,6 +223,7 @@ class TemplateDialog(QDialog, Ui_TemplateDialog):
         self.iconing = icon_field_key is not None
         self.embleming = doing_emblem
         self.dialog_is_st_editor = dialog_is_st_editor
+        self.global_vars = global_vars
 
         cols = []
         if fm is not None:
@@ -424,8 +426,8 @@ class TemplateDialog(QDialog, Ui_TemplateDialog):
             self.highlighter.regenerate_paren_positions()
             self.text_cursor_changed()
             self.template_value.setText(
-                SafeFormat().safe_format(cur_text, self.mi,
-                                                _('EXCEPTION: '), self.mi))
+                SafeFormat().safe_format(cur_text, self.mi, _('EXCEPTION: '),
+                                         self.mi, global_vars=self.global_vars))
 
     def text_cursor_changed(self):
         cursor = self.textbox.textCursor()