diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/models.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/models.py
index 70fa0ccbda..3fed536603 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/models.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/models.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class ColumnIcon(object):
                     icon_cache[id_][dex] = icon_bitmap
                     icon_bitmap_cache[icon] = icon_bitmap
                     self.mi = None
-                    return icon
+                    return icon_bitmap
         except:
             pass