diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/render.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/render.py
index 33eef885bc..9f8a2b4147 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/render.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/book/render.py
@@ -420,37 +420,31 @@ def mi_to_html(
                         if not metadata.get('display', {}).get('is_names', False):
                             all_vals = sorted(all_vals, key=sort_key)
                         links = []
-                        if show_links:
-                            for x in all_vals:
-                                if metadata['is_custom']:
-                                    u, v = cc_search_action_with_data(field, x, book_id, metadata, mi, field)
-                                    v = f'<a href="{u}" title="{v}">{p(x)}</a>'
-                                else:
-                                    v = '<a href="{}" title="{}">{}</a>'.format(
-                                        search_action_with_data(st, x, book_id, field),
-                                        _('Click to see books with {0}: {1}').format(
-                                        metadata['name'] or field, a(x)), p(x))
-                                v += add_other_links(field, x)
-                                links.append(v)
-                        else:
-                            links = all_vals
+                        for x in all_vals:
+                            if metadata['is_custom']:
+                                u, v = cc_search_action_with_data(field, x, book_id, metadata, mi, field)
+                                v = f'<a href="{u}" title="{v}">{p(x)}</a>'
+                            else:
+                                v = '<a href="{}" title="{}">{}</a>'.format(
+                                    search_action_with_data(st, x, book_id, field),
+                                    _('Click to see books with {0}: {1}').format(
+                                    metadata['name'] or field, a(x)), p(x))
+                            v += add_other_links(field, x)
+                            links.append(v)
                         val = value_list(metadata['is_multiple']['list_to_ui'], links)
                     else:
                         try:
                             st = metadata['search_terms'][0]
                         except Exception:
                             st = field
-                        if show_links:
-                            if metadata['is_custom']:
-                                u, v = cc_search_action_with_data(st, unescaped_val, book_id, metadata, mi, field)
-                                v = f'<a href="{u}" title="{v}">{p(unescaped_val)}</a>'
-                            else:
-                                v = '<a href="{}" title="{}">{}</a>'.format(
-                                    search_action_with_data(st, unescaped_val, book_id, field),
-                                    _('Click to see books with {0}: {1}').format(
-                                    metadata['name'] or field, a(unescaped_val)), p(unescaped_val))
+                        if metadata['is_custom']:
+                            u, v = cc_search_action_with_data(st, unescaped_val, book_id, metadata, mi, field)
+                            v = f'<a href="{u}" title="{v}">{p(unescaped_val)}</a>'
                         else:
-                            v = val
+                            v = '<a href="{}" title="{}">{}</a>'.format(
+                                search_action_with_data(st, unescaped_val, book_id, field),
+                                _('Click to see books with {0}: {1}').format(
+                                metadata['name'] or field, a(unescaped_val)), p(unescaped_val))
                         val = v + add_other_links(field, val)
                 elif metadata['datatype'] == 'enumeration':
                     u, v = cc_search_action_with_data(field, unescaped_val, book_id, metadata, mi, field)