diff --git a/src/calibre/db/legacy.py b/src/calibre/db/legacy.py
index a4d5a332e5..b079c776bb 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/legacy.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/legacy.py
@@ -667,7 +667,12 @@ class LibraryDatabase(object):
     def remove_cover(self, book_id, notify=True, commit=True):
         self.new_api.set_cover({book_id:None})
         if notify:
-            self.notify('cover', [id])
+            self.notify('cover', [book_id])
+
+    def set_cover(self, book_id, data, notify=True, commit=True):
+        self.new_api.set_cover({book_id:data})
+        if notify:
+            self.notify('cover', [book_id])
 
     # Private interface {{{
     def __iter__(self):
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/tests/legacy.py b/src/calibre/db/tests/legacy.py
index 4f448b5113..091d344e2d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/tests/legacy.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/tests/legacy.py
@@ -346,10 +346,14 @@ class LegacyTest(BaseTest):
             self.assertEqual(cache.field_for('tags', bid), (_('News'), 'Events', 'one', 'two'))
 
         self.assertTrue(legacy.cover(1, index_is_id=True))
+        origcov = legacy.cover(1, index_is_id=True)
         self.assertTrue(legacy.has_cover(1))
         legacy.remove_cover(1)
         self.assertFalse(legacy.has_cover(1))
         self.assertFalse(legacy.cover(1, index_is_id=True))
+        legacy.set_cover(3, origcov)
+        self.assertEqual(legacy.cover(3, index_is_id=True), origcov)
+        self.assertTrue(legacy.has_cover(3))
 
         legacy.delete_book(1)
         old.delete_book(1)