diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/add.py b/src/calibre/gui2/add.py
index 086f40feee..f40cf0ff75 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/add.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/add.py
@@ -183,32 +183,33 @@ class DBAdder(QObject): # {{{
                 identical_book_list = self.db.find_identical_books(mi)
                 if identical_book_list:  # books with same author and nearly same title exist in db
                     self.merged_books.add(mi.title)
-                    a_new_record_has_been_created = False
-                    for identical_book in identical_book_list:
-                        if gprefs['automerge'] == 'ignore':
-                            self.add_formats(identical_book, formats, replace=False)
-                        if gprefs['automerge'] == 'overwrite':
-                            self.add_formats(identical_book, formats, replace=True)
-                        if gprefs['automerge'] == 'new record' and not a_new_record_has_been_created:
-                            '''
-                            We are here because we have at least one book record in the db that matches the one file/format being processed
-                            We need to check if the file/format being processed matches a format in the matching book record.
-                            If so, create new record (as below), else, add to existing record, as above.
-                            Test if format exists in matching record. identical_book is an id, formats is a FQPN path in a list
-                            '''
-                            for path in formats:
-                                fmt = os.path.splitext(path)[-1].replace('.', '').upper()
-                                ib_fmts = self.db.formats(identical_book, index_is_id=True)
-                                if ib_fmts and fmt in ib_fmts: # Create a new record
-                                    if not a_new_record_has_been_created:
-                                        id_ = self.db.create_book_entry(mi, cover=cover, add_duplicates=True)
-                                        self.number_of_books_added += 1
-                                        self.add_formats(id_, formats)
-                                        a_new_record_has_been_created = True
-                                else: #new record not required
-                                    self.add_formats(identical_book, formats, replace=False)
+                    seen_fmts = set([])
 
-                else: # books with same author and nearly same title do not exist in db
+                    for identical_book in identical_book_list:
+                        ib_fmts = self.db.formats(identical_book, index_is_id=True)
+                        if ib_fmts:
+                            seen_fmts |= set(ib_fmts.split(','))
+                        replace = gprefs['automerge'] == 'overwrite'
+                        self.add_formats(identical_book, formats,
+                                replace=replace)
+                    if gprefs['automerge'] == 'new record':
+                        incoming_fmts = \
+                            set([os.path.splitext(path)[-1].replace('.',
+                                '').upper() for path in formats])
+                        if incoming_fmts.intersection(seen_fmts):
+                            # There was at least one duplicate format
+                            # so create a new record and put the
+                            # incoming formats into it
+                            # We should arguably put only the duplicate
+                            # formats, but no real harm is done by having
+                            # all formats
+                            id_ = self.db.create_book_entry(mi, cover=cover,
+                                    add_duplicates=True)
+                            self.number_of_books_added += 1
+                            self.add_formats(id_, formats)
+
+                else:
+                    # books with same author and nearly same title do not exist in db
                     id_ = self.db.create_book_entry(mi, cover=cover, add_duplicates=True)
                     self.number_of_books_added += 1
                     self.add_formats(id_, formats)