diff --git a/src/calibre/db/write.py b/src/calibre/db/write.py
index ffd8f9633a..3c7e09e24f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/write.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/write.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def multiple_text(sep, ui_sep, x):
     if not x:
         return ()
     if isinstance(x, bytes):
-        x = x.decode(preferred_encoding, 'replce')
+        x = x.decode(preferred_encoding, 'replace')
     if isinstance(x, unicode):
         x = x.split(sep)
     else: