diff --git a/qutebrowser/completion/models/histcategory.py b/qutebrowser/completion/models/histcategory.py
index 6fdab0cdb..42301c0dd 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/completion/models/histcategory.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/completion/models/histcategory.py
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ class HistoryCategory(QSqlQueryModel):
             'ORDER BY last_atime DESC LIMIT :limit)',
         ])).run(limit=max_items).value()
 
+        if not min_atime:
+            # if there are no history items, min_atime may be '' (issue #2849)
+            return ''
+
         return "AND last_atime >= {}".format(min_atime)
 
     def set_pattern(self, pattern):
diff --git a/tests/unit/completion/test_histcategory.py b/tests/unit/completion/test_histcategory.py
index a0b2b0144..db4071502 100644
--- a/tests/unit/completion/test_histcategory.py
+++ b/tests/unit/completion/test_histcategory.py
@@ -125,7 +125,8 @@ def test_set_pattern(pattern, before, after, model_validator, hist):
     ], [
         ('b', 'b', '2017-06-16'),
         ('c', 'c', '2017-05-16'),
-    ])
+    ]),
+    (1, [], []),  # issue 2849 (crash with empty history)
 ])
 def test_sorting(max_items, before, after, model_validator, hist, config_stub):
     """Validate the filtering and sorting results of set_pattern."""