diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/http_request.py b/src/calibre/srv/http_request.py
index c4c38e2789..38f9b6b33e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/http_request.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/http_request.py
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ def parse_request_uri(uri):
 
 def parse_uri(uri, parse_query=True):
     scheme, authority, path = parse_request_uri(uri)
+    if path is None:
+        raise HTTPSimpleResponse(httplib.BAD_REQUEST, "No path component")
     if b'#' in path:
         raise HTTPSimpleResponse(httplib.BAD_REQUEST, "Illegal #fragment in Request-URI.")