diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/complete.py b/src/calibre/gui2/complete.py
index 9d78003231..e66255cc05 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/complete.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/complete.py
@@ -164,7 +164,13 @@ class MultiCompleteComboBox(EnComboBox):
         self.setLineEdit(self.le)
 
     def showPopup(self):
-        self.le._completer.complete()
+        c = self.le._completer
+        c.setCompletionPrefix('')
+        c.complete()
+
+    def hidePopup(self):
+        self.le.update_completions()
+        EnComboBox.hidePopup(self)
 
     def update_items_cache(self, complete_items):
         self.lineEdit().update_items_cache(complete_items)