--- a/browser/components/places/content/treeView.js
+++ b/browser/components/places/content/treeView.js
@@ -1179,19 +1179,23 @@ PlacesTreeView.prototype = {
         return "";
       case this.COLUMN_TYPE_VISITCOUNT:
         return node.accessCount;
       case this.COLUMN_TYPE_KEYWORD:
         if (PlacesUtils.nodeIsBookmark(node))
           return PlacesUtils.bookmarks.getKeywordForBookmark(node.itemId);
         return "";
       case this.COLUMN_TYPE_DESCRIPTION:
-        const annos = PlacesUtils.annotations;
-        if (annos.itemHasAnnotation(node.itemId, DESCRIPTION_ANNO))
-          return annos.getItemAnnotation(node.itemId, DESCRIPTION_ANNO)
+        if (node.itemId != -1) {
+          try {
+            return PlacesUtils.annotations.
+                               getItemAnnotation(node.itemId, DESCRIPTION_ANNO);
+          }
+          catch (ex) { /* has no description */ }
+        }
         return "";
       case this.COLUMN_TYPE_DATEADDED:
         if (node.dateAdded)
           return this._convertPRTimeToString(node.dateAdded);
         return "";
       case this.COLUMN_TYPE_LASTMODIFIED:
         if (node.lastModified)
           return this._convertPRTimeToString(node.lastModified);