diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/edit_collections.py b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/edit_collections.py
index f92cdc1758..ee53cf318b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/edit_collections.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/edit_collections.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ __license__   = 'GPL v3'
 __copyright__ = '2010, Kovid Goyal <kovid@kovidgoyal.net>'
 __docformat__ = 'restructuredtext en'
 
+from calibre.gui2 import error_dialog
 from calibre.gui2.actions import InterfaceAction
 
 class EditCollectionsAction(InterfaceAction):
@@ -25,10 +26,12 @@ class EditCollectionsAction(InterfaceAction):
     def edit_collections(self, *args):
         oncard = None
         cv = self.gui.current_view()
+        if cv is self.gui.library_view:
+            return error_dialog(self.gui, _('In library view'), _(
+                'Collections can only be edited when showing the books on the device. Click the toolbar button to switch to the device view first.'), show=True)
         if cv is self.gui.card_a_view:
             oncard = 'carda'
-        if cv is self.gui.card_b_view:
+        elif cv is self.gui.card_b_view:
             oncard = 'cardb'
         self.gui.iactions['Edit Metadata'].edit_device_collections(cv,
                 oncard=oncard)
-