diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/complete.py b/src/calibre/gui2/complete.py
index b5c1fc8b3e..fb1f39dfa3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/complete.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/complete.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ __docformat__ = 'restructuredtext en'
 
 
 from PyQt4.Qt import (QLineEdit, QAbstractListModel, Qt,
-        QApplication, QCompleter, QMetaObject)
+        QApplication, QCompleter, pyqtSignal)
 
 from calibre.utils.icu import sort_key, lower
 from calibre.gui2 import NONE
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ class MultiCompleteLineEdit(QLineEdit, LineEditECM):
 
 class MultiCompleteComboBox(EnComboBox):
 
+    clear_edit_text = pyqtSignal()
+
     def __init__(self, *args):
         EnComboBox.__init__(self, *args)
         self.setLineEdit(MultiCompleteLineEdit(self))
@@ -169,6 +171,8 @@ class MultiCompleteComboBox(EnComboBox):
         self.dummy_model = CompleteModel(self)
         c.setModel(self.dummy_model)
         self.lineEdit()._completer.setWidget(self)
+        self.clear_edit_text.connect(self.clearEditText,
+                type=Qt.QueuedConnection)
 
     def update_items_cache(self, complete_items):
         self.lineEdit().update_items_cache(complete_items)
@@ -191,8 +195,7 @@ class MultiCompleteComboBox(EnComboBox):
         what = unicode(what)
         le = self.lineEdit()
         if not what.strip():
-            QMetaObject.invokeMethod(self, 'clearEditText',
-                    Qt.QueuedConnection)
+            self.clear_edit_text.emit()
         else:
             self.setEditText(what)
             le.selectAll()