diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
index d84dea7376..151f58f6af 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
@@ -522,7 +522,13 @@ class Main(MainWindow, MainWindowMixin, DeviceMixin, # {{{
 
 
     def shutdown(self, write_settings=True):
-        self.db.clean()
+        l = getattr(self, 'library_view', None)
+        if l:
+            l = getattr(l, 'model', None);
+        if l:
+            l = l().db
+        if l:
+            l.clean()
         for action in self.iactions.values():
             if not action.shutting_down():
                 return