diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
index 1bd071d6f9..31998dfcb2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ def identify(log, abort, # {{{
             result.identify_plugin = plugin
             if msprefs['txt_comments']:
                 if plugin.has_html_comments and result.comments:
-                    result.comments = html2text(r.comments)
+                    result.comments = html2text(result.comments)
 
     log('The identify phase took %.2f seconds'%(time.time() - start_time))
     log('The longest time (%f) was taken by:'%longest, lp)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
index b2c5d471ae..8858f9c986 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
@@ -1038,10 +1038,11 @@ class IdentifiersEdit(QLineEdit): # {{{
         self.setStyleSheet('QLineEdit { background-color: %s }'%col)
 
     def paste_isbn(self):
-        cb = QApplication.clipboard()
-        vals = self.current_val
-        vals['isbn'] = cb.text()
-        self.current_val = vals
+        text = unicode(QApplication.clipboard().text()).strip()
+        if text:
+            vals = self.current_val
+            vals['isbn'] = text
+            self.current_val = vals
 
 # }}}