diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_editor.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_editor.py
index d4325354a1..6bd8eb7dbe 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_editor.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_editor.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class TagEditor(QDialog, Ui_TagEditor):
         self.setupUi(self)
 
         self.db = db
-        self.index = db.row(id_)
+        self.index = db.row(id_) if id_ is not None else None
         if self.index is not None:
             tags = self.db.tags(self.index)
         else: