diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/fts/cards.py b/src/calibre/gui2/fts/cards.py
index dae1935b15..f122d8d1e7 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/fts/cards.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/fts/cards.py
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ class VirtualCardContainer(QWidget):
         needed: set[int] = set()
         for r in range(first_row, last_row):
             ri = self._rows[r]
-            for idx in range(ri.first_index, ri.first_index + ri.card_count):
+            for idx in range(ri.first_index, min(ri.first_index + ri.card_count, len(self._cards))):
                 needed.add(idx)
 
         # Recycle widgets that are no longer needed