diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/toc.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/toc.py
index 9fdeee69b4..78fbaf2bcf 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/toc.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/toc.py
@@ -219,7 +219,8 @@ class TOC(QStandardItemModel):
 
     def find_items(self, query):
         for item in self.all_items:
-            if primary_contains(query, item.text()):
+            text = item.text()
+            if text and primary_contains(query, text):
                 yield item
 
     def node_id_for_text(self, query):