diff --git a/mailnews/addrbook/resources/content/abCommon.js b/mailnews/addrbook/resources/content/abCommon.js
index 12c8c7fd1f09..3cd56b90028c 100644
--- a/mailnews/addrbook/resources/content/abCommon.js
+++ b/mailnews/addrbook/resources/content/abCommon.js
@@ -790,6 +790,9 @@ function GetSelectedAddressBookDirID(abListItem)
   if (!selectedAB && abDirEntries && abDirEntries.localName == "menulist" && abDirEntries.selectedItem)
     selectedAB = abDirEntries.selectedItem.getAttribute("id");
 
+  // if we do not have a selected ab still, use personal addressbook
+  if (!selectedAB)
+    selectedAB = kPersonalAddressbookURI;
   return selectedAB;
 }