diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/central.py b/src/calibre/gui2/central.py
index 7c09c5086f..9a4bdb6093 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/central.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/central.py
@@ -365,26 +365,21 @@ class CentralContainer(QWidget):
         self.top_handle = h(Qt.Orientation.Horizontal)
         self.bottom_handle = h(Qt.Orientation.Horizontal)
 
-    _last_cb_position = None
+    _last_cb_position = gui = None
 
     @property
     def narrow_cb_on_top(self):
-        from calibre.gui2 import gui_prefs
-        prefs = gui_prefs()
-        p = self._last_cb_position = prefs['cover_browser_narrow_view_position']
+        p = self._last_cb_position = gprefs['cover_browser_narrow_view_position']
         if p == 'automatic':
-            from calibre.gui2.ui import get_gui
-            gui = get_gui()
-            ratio = self.width() / self.height() if gui is None else gui.width() / gui.height()
+            gui = self.gui or self
+            ratio = gui.width() / gui.height()
             return ratio <= 1.4
-        return bool(self._last_cb_position == 'on_top')
+        return p == 'on_top'
 
     @property
     def cb_on_top_changed(self):
-        from calibre.gui2 import gui_prefs
-        prefs = gui_prefs()
         return (self._last_cb_position is None or
-                prefs['cover_browser_narrow_view_position'] != self._last_cb_position)
+                gprefs['cover_browser_narrow_view_position'] != self._last_cb_position)
 
     @property
     def is_visible(self):
@@ -398,6 +393,7 @@ class CentralContainer(QWidget):
         w.setParent(self)
 
     def initialize_with_gui(self, gui, book_list_widget):
+        self.gui = gui
         self.tag_browser_button.initialize_with_gui(gui)
         self.book_details_button.initialize_with_gui(gui)
         self.cover_browser_button.initialize_with_gui(gui)
@@ -597,10 +593,8 @@ class CentralContainer(QWidget):
         self.update()
 
     def toggle_layout(self):
-        from calibre.gui2.ui import get_gui
-        gui = get_gui()
-        if gui:
-            self.change_layout(gui, self.layout is Layout.narrow)
+        if self.gui:
+            self.change_layout(self.gui, self.layout is Layout.narrow)
         else:
             self.layout = Layout.narrow if self.layout is Layout.wide else Layout.wide
             self.relayout()
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
index 7b9d91fd32..0dc9d527e2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
@@ -840,15 +840,6 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
         self.opt_gui_layout.addItem(_('Narrow'), 'narrow')
         self.opt_gui_layout.currentIndexChanged.connect(self.changed_signal)
         set_help_tips(self.opt_gui_layout, config.help('gui_layout'))
-        self.opt_gui_layout.currentIndexChanged.connect(self.gui_layout_changed)
-
-    def set_cover_browser_position_enabled(self, is_wide):
-        self.opt_cover_browser_narrow_view_position.setEnabled(not is_wide)
-        if is_wide:
-            self.opt_cover_browser_narrow_view_position.setCurrentIndex(0)
-
-    def gui_layout_changed(self, dex):
-        self.set_cover_browser_position_enabled(dex == 0) #0 == wide
 
     def initial_tab_changed(self):
         self.sections_view.setCurrentRow(self.tabWidget.currentIndex())
@@ -1057,7 +1048,11 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
         self.tb_focus_label.setVisible(self.opt_tag_browser_allow_keyboard_focus.isChecked())
         self.update_color_palette_state()
         self.opt_gui_layout.setCurrentIndex(0 if self.gui.layout_container.is_wide else 1)
-        self.set_cover_browser_position_enabled(self.gui.layout_container.is_wide)
+        set_help_tips(self.opt_cover_browser_narrow_view_position, _(
+            'This option controls the position of the cover browser when using the Narrow user interface layout.'
+            ' "Automatic" will place the cover browser on top or on the right of the book list depending on the'
+            ' aspect ratio of the calibre window. "On top" places it over the book list, and "On right" places'
+            ' it to the right of the book list. This option cannot be changed when using the Wide user interface layout.'))
 
     def open_cg_cache(self):
         open_local_file(self.gui.grid_view.thumbnail_cache.location)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
index 94660e18da..a3c4173f0b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
@@ -1927,14 +1927,6 @@ them to all have the same width and height</string>
          <property name="text">
           <string>Cover browser &amp;position in the narrow layout:</string>
          </property>
-         <property name="toolTip">
-          <string>&lt;p&gt;This option controls the position of the cover browser when
-using the Narrow user interface layout. "Automatic" will place the cover browser
-on top or on the right of the book list depending on the aspect ratio of the
-calibre window. "On top" places it over the book list, and "On right" places it
-to the right of the book list. This option cannot be changed when using the
-Wide user interface layout.&lt;/p&gt;</string>
-         </property>
          <property name="buddy">
           <cstring>opt_cover_browser_narrow_view_position</cstring>
          </property>