diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
index 9ad61d515b..cdb254ac78 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
@@ -912,6 +912,7 @@ class MetadataBulkDialog(ResizableDialog, Ui_MetadataBulkDialog):
 
     def series_changed(self, *args):
         self.write_series = True
+        self.autonumber_series.setEnabled(True)
 
     def s_r_remove_query(self, *args):
         if self.query_field.currentIndex() == 0:
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
index 2ab37bcbc6..ae3445998b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
@@ -303,6 +303,9 @@
             <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="HLayout_3">
              <item>
               <widget class="QCheckBox" name="autonumber_series">
+               <property name="enabled">
+                <bool>false</bool>
+               </property>
                <property name="toolTip">
                 <string>If not checked, the series number for the books will be set to 1.
 If checked, selected books will be automatically numbered, in the order
@@ -1006,8 +1009,8 @@ not multiple and the destination field is multiple</string>
                <rect>
                 <x>0</x>
                 <y>0</y>
-                <width>938</width>
-                <height>268</height>
+                <width>197</width>
+                <height>60</height>
                </rect>
               </property>
               <layout class="QGridLayout" name="testgrid">