diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
index f8177b7680..f2a2394e9e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import re
 
 from PyQt4.Qt import Qt, QDialog, QGridLayout, QVBoxLayout, QFont, QLabel, \
-                     pyqtSignal
+                     pyqtSignal, QDialogButtonBox
 from PyQt4 import QtGui
 
 from calibre.gui2.dialogs.metadata_bulk_ui import Ui_MetadataBulkDialog
@@ -198,15 +198,30 @@ class MetadataBulkDialog(QDialog, Ui_MetadataBulkDialog):
                         ]
 
     def __init__(self, window, rows, model):
+        self.model = model
+        self.db = self.model.db
+        self.ids = [self.db.id(r) for r in rows]
         QDialog.__init__(self, window)
         Ui_MetadataBulkDialog.__init__(self)
+        self._initialize()
+        self.exec_()
+
+    def _initialize(self):
+        # Remove all controls from the dialog box by deleting the top layout
+        if self.layout():
+            import sip
+            sip.delete(self.layout())
+
         self.setupUi(self)
-        self.model = model
-        self.db = model.db
-        self.ids = [self.db.id(r) for r in rows]
+        self.button_box.clicked.connect(self.button_clicked)
+        self.button_box.button(QDialogButtonBox.Apply).setToolTip(_(
+            'Immediately make all changes without closing the dialog. '
+            'This operation cannot be canceled or undone'))
+
         self.box_title.setText('<p>' +
                 _('Editing meta information for <b>%d books</b>') %
-                len(rows))
+                len(self.ids))
+
         self.write_series = False
         self.changed = False
 
@@ -232,7 +247,11 @@ def __init__(self, window, rows, model):
             self.create_custom_column_editors()
 
         self.prepare_search_and_replace()
-        self.exec_()
+
+    def button_clicked(self, which):
+        if which == self.button_box.button(QDialogButtonBox.Apply):
+            self._do_the_work()
+            self._initialize()
 
     def prepare_search_and_replace(self):
         self.search_for.initialize('bulk_edit_search_for')
@@ -627,10 +646,7 @@ def auto_number_changed(self, state):
             self.series_start_number.setEnabled(False)
             self.series_start_number.setValue(1)
 
-    def accept(self):
-        if len(self.ids) < 1:
-            return QDialog.accept(self)
-
+    def _do_the_work(self):
         if self.s_r_error is not None:
             error_dialog(self, _('Search/replace invalid'),
                     _('Search pattern is invalid: %s')%self.s_r_error.message,
@@ -690,8 +706,14 @@ def accept(self):
 
         dynamic['s_r_search_mode'] = self.search_mode.currentIndex()
         self.db.clean()
-        return QDialog.accept(self)
+        return True
 
+    def accept(self):
+        if len(self.ids) < 1:
+            return QDialog.accept(self)
+        if not self._do_the_work():
+            return False
+        return QDialog.accept(self)
 
     def series_changed(self, *args):
         self.write_series = True
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
index 44839bbacd..344bde0fa0 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ nothing should be put between the original text and the inserted text</string>
       <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
      </property>
      <property name="standardButtons">
-      <set>QDialogButtonBox::Cancel|QDialogButtonBox::Ok</set>
+      <set>QDialogButtonBox::Apply|QDialogButtonBox::Cancel|QDialogButtonBox::Ok</set>
      </property>
     </widget>
    </item>