diff --git a/src/calibre/library/server/browse.py b/src/calibre/library/server/browse.py
index 7e80213aff..f1d9b9785c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/server/browse.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/server/browse.py
@@ -623,8 +623,6 @@ class BrowseServer(object):
             except:
                 raise cherrypy.HTTPError(404, 'Search: %r not understood'%which)
         else:
-            if fm.get(category, {'datatype':None})['datatype'] == 'composite':
-                cid = cid.decode('utf-8')
             all_ids = self.search_cache('')
             if category == 'newest':
                 ids = all_ids
@@ -632,6 +630,8 @@ class BrowseServer(object):
             elif category == 'allbooks':
                 ids = all_ids
             else:
+                if fm.get(category, {'datatype':None})['datatype'] == 'composite':
+                    cid = cid.decode('utf-8')
                 q = category
                 if q == 'news':
                     q = 'tags'