diff --git a/src/calibre/customize/builtins.py b/src/calibre/customize/builtins.py
index 83413b3d3d..1e84570e54 100644
--- a/src/calibre/customize/builtins.py
+++ b/src/calibre/customize/builtins.py
@@ -641,9 +641,13 @@ class ActionPreferences(InterfaceActionBase):
     name = 'Preferences'
     actual_plugin = 'calibre.gui2.actions.preferences:PreferencesAction'
 
+class ActionSimilarBooks(InterfaceActionBase):
+    name = 'Similar Books'
+    actual_plugin = 'calibre.gui2.actions.similar_books:SimilarBooksAction'
+
 
 plugins += [ActionAdd, ActionFetchAnnotations, ActionGenerateCatalog,
         ActionConvert, ActionDelete, ActionEditMetadata, ActionView,
         ActionFetchNews, ActionSaveToDisk, ActionShowBookDetails,
         ActionRestart, ActionOpenFolder, ActionConnectShare,
-        ActionSendToDevice, ActionHelp, ActionPreferences]
+        ActionSendToDevice, ActionHelp, ActionPreferences, ActionSimilarBooks]
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/__init__.py
index d5c6a0cf7e..f2905885bf 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/__init__.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ class InterfaceAction(QObject):
         if shortcut:
             action.setShortcut(shortcut)
         setattr(self, attr, action)
+        return action
 
     def genesis(self):
         pass
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/similar_books.py b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/similar_books.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9c3a52e694
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/similar_books.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=UTF-8:ts=4:sw=4:sta:et:sts=4:ai
+
+__license__   = 'GPL v3'
+__copyright__ = '2010, Kovid Goyal <kovid@kovidgoyal.net>'
+__docformat__ = 'restructuredtext en'
+
+from functools import partial
+
+from PyQt4.Qt import QMenu
+
+from calibre.gui2.actions import InterfaceAction
+
+class SimilarBooksAction(InterfaceAction):
+
+    name = 'Similar Books'
+    action_spec = (_('Similar books...'), None, None, None)
+
+    def genesis(self):
+        m = QMenu(self.gui)
+        for text, icon, target, shortcut in [
+        (_('Books by same author'), 'user_profile.svg', 'authors', _('Alt+A')),
+        (_('Books in this series'), 'books_in_series.svg', 'series', _('Alt+S')),
+        (_('Books by this publisher'), 'publisher.png', 'publisher', _('Alt+P'))
+        (_('Books with the same tags'), 'tags.svg', 'tag', _('Alt+T'))]:
+            ac = self.create_action(spec=(text, icon, None, shortcut),
+                    attr=target)
+            m.addAction(ac)
+            m.triggered.connect(partial(self.show_similar_books, target))
+        self.qaction.setMenu(m)
+        self.similar_menu = m
+
+    def show_similar_books(self, type, *args):
+        search, join = [], ' '
+        idx = self.gui.library_view.currentIndex()
+        if not idx.isValid():
+            return
+        row = idx.row()
+        if type == 'series':
+            series = idx.model().db.series(row)
+            if series:
+                search = ['series:"'+series+'"']
+        elif type == 'publisher':
+            publisher = idx.model().db.publisher(row)
+            if publisher:
+                search = ['publisher:"'+publisher+'"']
+        elif type == 'tag':
+            tags = idx.model().db.tags(row)
+            if tags:
+                search = ['tag:"='+t+'"' for t in tags.split(',')]
+        elif type in ('author', 'authors'):
+            authors = idx.model().db.authors(row)
+            if authors:
+                search = ['author:"='+a.strip().replace('|', ',')+'"' \
+                                for a in authors.split(',')]
+                join = ' or '
+        if search:
+            self.gui.search.set_search_string(join.join(search))
+
+
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
index 2b89057fc4..86452fecee 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ __docformat__ = 'restructuredtext en'
 
 import functools, sys, os
 
-from PyQt4.Qt import QMenu, Qt, QStackedWidget, \
+from PyQt4.Qt import Qt, QStackedWidget, \
         QSize, QSizePolicy, QStatusBar, QLabel, QFont
 
 from calibre.utils.config import prefs
@@ -30,28 +30,6 @@ def partial(*args, **kwargs):
 class LibraryViewMixin(object): # {{{
 
     def __init__(self, db):
-        similar_menu = QMenu(_('Similar books...'))
-        similar_menu.addAction(self.action_books_by_same_author)
-        similar_menu.addAction(self.action_books_in_this_series)
-        similar_menu.addAction(self.action_books_with_the_same_tags)
-        similar_menu.addAction(self.action_books_by_this_publisher)
-        self.action_books_by_same_author.setShortcut(Qt.ALT + Qt.Key_A)
-        self.action_books_in_this_series.setShortcut(Qt.ALT + Qt.Key_S)
-        self.action_books_by_this_publisher.setShortcut(Qt.ALT + Qt.Key_P)
-        self.action_books_with_the_same_tags.setShortcut(Qt.ALT+Qt.Key_T)
-        self.addAction(self.action_books_by_same_author)
-        self.addAction(self.action_books_by_this_publisher)
-        self.addAction(self.action_books_in_this_series)
-        self.addAction(self.action_books_with_the_same_tags)
-        self.similar_menu = similar_menu
-        self.action_books_by_same_author.triggered.connect(
-                partial(self.show_similar_books, 'authors'))
-        self.action_books_in_this_series.triggered.connect(
-                partial(self.show_similar_books, 'series'))
-        self.action_books_with_the_same_tags.triggered.connect(
-                partial(self.show_similar_books, 'tag'))
-        self.action_books_by_this_publisher.triggered.connect(
-                partial(self.show_similar_books, 'publisher'))
 
         self.library_view.set_context_menu(self.action_edit, self.action_sync,
                                         self.action_convert, self.action_view,
@@ -122,33 +100,6 @@ class LibraryViewMixin(object): # {{{
 
 
 
-    def show_similar_books(self, type, *args):
-        search, join = [], ' '
-        idx = self.library_view.currentIndex()
-        if not idx.isValid():
-            return
-        row = idx.row()
-        if type == 'series':
-            series = idx.model().db.series(row)
-            if series:
-                search = ['series:"'+series+'"']
-        elif type == 'publisher':
-            publisher = idx.model().db.publisher(row)
-            if publisher:
-                search = ['publisher:"'+publisher+'"']
-        elif type == 'tag':
-            tags = idx.model().db.tags(row)
-            if tags:
-                search = ['tag:"='+t+'"' for t in tags.split(',')]
-        elif type in ('author', 'authors'):
-            authors = idx.model().db.authors(row)
-            if authors:
-                search = ['author:"='+a.strip().replace('|', ',')+'"' \
-                                for a in authors.split(',')]
-                join = ' or '
-        if search:
-            self.search.set_search_string(join.join(search))
-
     def search_done(self, view, ok):
         if view is self.current_view():
             self.search.search_done(ok)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/layout.py b/src/calibre/gui2/layout.py
index 8143c7355b..aaf94f7585 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/layout.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/layout.py
@@ -373,15 +373,6 @@ class MainWindowMixin(object):
         ac(5,  5,  3, 'choose_library', _('%d books')%0, 'lt.png',
                 tooltip=_('Choose calibre library to work with'))
 
-        ac(-1, -1, 0, 'books_by_same_author', _('Books by same author'),
-                'user_profile.svg')
-        ac(-1, -1, 0, 'books_in_this_series', _('Books in this series'),
-                'books_in_series.svg')
-        ac(-1, -1, 0, 'books_by_this_publisher', _('Books by this publisher'),
-                'publisher.png')
-        ac(-1, -1, 0, 'books_with_the_same_tags', _('Books with the same tags'),
-                'tags.svg')
-
 
 
         return all_actions