diff --git a/src/calibre/library/coloring.py b/src/calibre/library/coloring.py
index c8cafcf9eb..0102f8f977 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/coloring.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/coloring.py
@@ -128,9 +128,9 @@ class Rule(object): # {{{
 
     def multiple_condition(self, col, action, val, sep):
         if action == 'is set':
-            return "test('%s', '1', '')"%col
+            return "test(field('%s'), '1', '')"%col
         if action == 'is not set':
-            return "test('%s', '', '1')"%col
+            return "test(field('%s'), '', '1')"%col
         if action == 'has':
             return "str_in_list(field('%s'), '%s', \"%s\", '1', '')"%(col, sep, val)
         if action == 'does not have':
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ class Rule(object): # {{{
 
     def text_condition(self, col, action, val):
         if action == 'is set':
-            return "test('%s', '1', '')"%col
+            return "test(field('%s'), '1', '')"%col
         if action == 'is not set':
-            return "test('%s', '', '1')"%col
+            return "test(field('%s'), '', '1')"%col
         if action == 'is':
             return "strcmp(field('%s'), \"%s\", '', '1', '')"%(col, val)
         if action == 'is not':