diff --git a/src/calibre/library/database.py b/src/calibre/library/database.py
index e84e9b66e3..73ecc91742 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/database.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/database.py
@@ -1413,7 +1413,10 @@ def export_to_dir(self, dir, indices, byauthor=False, single_dir=False,
                 mi.render(f)
                 f.close()
                 
-                for fmt in self.formats(idx, index_is_id=index_is_id).split(','):
+                fmts = self.formats(idx, index_is_id=index_is_id)
+                if not fmts:
+                    fmts = ''
+                for fmt in fmts.split(','):
                     data = self.format(idx, fmt, index_is_id=index_is_id)
                     fname = name +'.'+fmt.lower()
                     fname = sanitize_file_name(fname)