diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
index 9649a79cc1..ade4b496fe 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ gprefs.defaults['action-layout-toolbar'] = (
         'Connect Share', None, 'Remove Books', None, 'Help', 'Preferences',
         )
 
+gprefs.defaults['action-layout-toolbar-child'] = ()
+
 gprefs.defaults['action-layout-toolbar-device'] = (
         'Add Books', 'Edit Metadata', None, 'Convert Books', 'View',
         'Send To Device', None, None, 'Location Manager', None, None,
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/layout.py b/src/calibre/gui2/layout.py
index e8a4e79384..e4814ffbb8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/layout.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/layout.py
@@ -278,11 +278,16 @@ class ToolBar(QToolBar): # {{{
         pass
 
     def build_bar(self):
-        self.child_bar.setVisible(gprefs['show_child_bar'])
         self.showing_donate = False
         showing_device = self.location_manager.has_device
-        actions = '-device' if showing_device else ''
-        actions = gprefs['action-layout-toolbar'+actions]
+        mactions = '-device' if showing_device else ''
+        mactions = gprefs['action-layout-toolbar'+mactions]
+        cactions = gprefs['action-layout-toolbar-child']
+
+        show_child = gprefs['show_child_bar']
+        if not len(cactions):
+            show_child = False
+        self.child_bar.setVisible(show_child)
 
         for ac in self.added_actions:
             m = ac.menu()
@@ -292,41 +297,27 @@ class ToolBar(QToolBar): # {{{
         self.clear()
         self.child_bar.clear()
         self.added_actions = []
-        self.spacers = [Spacer(self.child_bar), Spacer(self.child_bar),
-                Spacer(self), Spacer(self)]
-        self.child_bar.addWidget(self.spacers[0])
-        if gprefs['show_child_bar']:
-            self.addWidget(self.spacers[2])
 
-        for what in actions:
-            if what is None and not gprefs['show_child_bar']:
-                self.addSeparator()
-            elif what == 'Location Manager':
-                for ac in self.location_manager.available_actions:
-                    self.addAction(ac)
-                    self.added_actions.append(ac)
-                    self.setup_tool_button(ac, QToolButton.MenuButtonPopup)
-            elif what == 'Donate':
-                self.d_widget = QWidget()
-                self.d_widget.setLayout(QVBoxLayout())
-                self.d_widget.layout().addWidget(self.donate_button)
-                self.addWidget(self.d_widget)
-                self.showing_donate = True
-            elif what in self.gui.iactions:
-                action = self.gui.iactions[what]
-                bar = self
-                if action.action_type == 'current' and gprefs['show_child_bar']:
-                    bar = self.child_bar
-                bar.addAction(action.qaction)
-                self.added_actions.append(action.qaction)
-                self.setup_tool_button(action.qaction, action.popup_type)
-
-        self.child_bar.addWidget(self.spacers[1])
-        if gprefs['show_child_bar']:
-            self.addWidget(self.spacers[3])
-        else:
-            for s in self.spacers[2:]:
-                s.setVisible(False)
+        for bar, actions in ((self, mactions), (self.child_bar, cactions)):
+            for what in actions:
+                if what is None:
+                    bar.addSeparator()
+                elif what == 'Location Manager':
+                    for ac in self.location_manager.available_actions:
+                        bar.addAction(ac)
+                        bar.added_actions.append(ac)
+                        bar.setup_tool_button(ac, QToolButton.MenuButtonPopup)
+                elif what == 'Donate':
+                    self.d_widget = QWidget()
+                    self.d_widget.setLayout(QVBoxLayout())
+                    self.d_widget.layout().addWidget(self.donate_button)
+                    bar.addWidget(self.d_widget)
+                    self.showing_donate = True
+                elif what in self.gui.iactions:
+                    action = self.gui.iactions[what]
+                    bar.addAction(action.qaction)
+                    self.added_actions.append(action.qaction)
+                    self.setup_tool_button(action.qaction, action.popup_type)
 
     def setup_tool_button(self, ac, menu_mode=None):
         ch = self.widgetForAction(ac)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
index bc965b89fa..048c664934 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>670</width>
-    <height>422</height>
+    <width>717</width>
+    <height>444</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ then the tags will be displayed each on their own line.</string>
       <item row="2" column="0" colspan="2">
        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="opt_show_child_bar">
         <property name="text">
-         <string>&amp;Split the toolbar into two toolbars</string>
+         <string>Add a &amp;second toolbar</string>
         </property>
        </widget>
       </item>
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/toolbar.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/toolbar.py
index a0d48f3910..a17531c7d3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/toolbar.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/toolbar.py
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
 
     LOCATIONS = [
             ('toolbar', _('The main toolbar')),
+            ('toolbar-child', _('The second toolbar')),
             ('toolbar-device', _('The main toolbar when a device is connected')),
             ('context-menu', _('The context menu for the books in the '
                 'calibre library')),