diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/bookmarks.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/bookmarks.py
index 8868d77ad5..8399de2834 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/bookmarks.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/bookmarks.py
@@ -35,15 +35,23 @@ class BookmarksList(QListWidget):
         self.ac_delete = ac = QAction(QIcon(I('trash.png')), _('Remove this bookmark'), self)
         self.addAction(ac)
 
+    @property
+    def current_non_removed_item(self):
+        ans = self.currentItem()
+        if ans is not None:
+            bm = ans.data(Qt.UserRole)
+            if not bm.get('removed'):
+                return ans
+
     def keyPressEvent(self, ev):
         if ev.key() in (Qt.Key_Enter, Qt.Key_Return):
-            i = self.currentItem()
+            i = self.current_non_removed_item
             if i is not None:
                 self.bookmark_activated.emit(i)
                 ev.accept()
                 return
         if ev.key() in (Qt.Key_Delete, Qt.Key_Backspace):
-            i = self.currentItem()
+            i = self.current_non_removed_item
             if i is not None:
                 self.ac_delete.trigger()
                 ev.accept()
@@ -58,6 +66,8 @@ class BookmarksList(QListWidget):
         current_item = items[row]
         items = [i for i in items if not i.isHidden()]
         count = len(items)
+        if not count:
+            return
         row = items.index(current_item)
         nrow = (row + delta + count) % count
         self.setCurrentItem(items[nrow])
@@ -240,7 +250,7 @@ class BookmarkManager(QWidget):
         self.edited.emit(self.get_bookmarks())
 
     def delete_bookmark(self):
-        item = self.bookmarks_list.currentItem()
+        item = self.bookmarks_list.current_non_removed_item
         if item is not None:
             bm = item.data(Qt.UserRole)
             if confirm(
@@ -256,7 +266,7 @@ class BookmarkManager(QWidget):
                 self.edited.emit(self.get_bookmarks())
 
     def edit_bookmark(self):
-        item = self.bookmarks_list.currentItem()
+        item = self.bookmarks_list.current_non_removed_item
         if item is not None:
             self.bookmarks_list.editItem(item)