diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_editor.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_editor.py
index 9185a56057..2a6529bb87 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_editor.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/tag_editor.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ class TagEditor(QDialog, Ui_TagEditor):
         if not items:
             error_dialog(self, 'No tags selected', 'You must select at least one tag from the list of Available tags.').exec_()
             return
+        pos = self.available_tags.verticalScrollBar().value()
         for item in items:
             used = self.db.is_tag_used(unicode(item.text())) \
                 if self.key is None else \
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ class TagEditor(QDialog, Ui_TagEditor):
                                                         label=self.key)
                 self.db.refresh_ids(bks)
             self.available_tags.takeItem(self.available_tags.row(item))
+        self.available_tags.verticalScrollBar().setValue(pos)
 
     def apply_tags(self, item=None):
         items = self.available_tags.selectedItems() if item is None else [item]