diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
index 29ba22a5ac..0139d0aee2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ class MetadataBulkDialog(QDialog, Ui_MetadataBulkDialog):
         finally:
             pd.hide()
 
+        self.db.clean()
         return QDialog.accept(self)