diff --git a/picard/formats/id3.py b/picard/formats/id3.py
index 280b92e58..6346d036b 100644
--- a/picard/formats/id3.py
+++ b/picard/formats/id3.py
@@ -162,7 +162,10 @@ class ID3File(File):
                 for text in frame.text:
                     metadata.add(name, unicode(text))
             elif frameid == 'USLT':
-                metadata.add('lyrics:' + frame.desc, unicode(frame.text))
+                name = 'lyrics'
+                if frame.desc:
+                    name += frame.desc
+                metadata.add(name, unicode(frame.text))
             elif frameid == 'UFID' and frame.owner == 'http://musicbrainz.org':
                 metadata['musicbrainz_trackid'] = unicode(frame.data)
             elif frameid == 'TRCK':