diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
index da6e92c26a..302766a92d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ class MetadataBulkDialog(ResizableDialog, Ui_MetadataBulkDialog):
             self.pubdate.setDisplayFormat(pubdate_format)
         self.pubdate.setSpecialValueText(_('Undefined'))
         self.clear_pubdate_button.clicked.connect(self.clear_pubdate)
+        self.pubdate.dateChanged.connect(self.do_apply_pubdate)
 
         if len(self.db.custom_field_keys(include_composites=False)) == 0:
             self.central_widget.removeTab(1)
@@ -315,6 +316,9 @@ class MetadataBulkDialog(ResizableDialog, Ui_MetadataBulkDialog):
         self.central_widget.setCurrentIndex(tab)
         self.exec_()
 
+    def do_apply_pubdate(self, *args):
+        self.apply_pubdate.setChecked(True)
+
     def clear_pubdate(self, *args):
         self.pubdate.setDate(UNDEFINED_QDATE)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
index b14c31c9d1..5690a8e555 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
@@ -367,6 +367,9 @@ from the value in the box</string>
                <property name="displayFormat">
                 <string>MMM yyyy</string>
                </property>
+               <property name="calendarPopup">
+                <bool>true</bool>
+               </property>
               </widget>
              </item>
              <item>
@@ -871,8 +874,8 @@ not multiple and the destination field is multiple</string>
                <rect>
                 <x>0</x>
                 <y>0</y>
-                <width>826</width>
-                <height>313</height>
+                <width>197</width>
+                <height>60</height>
                </rect>
               </property>
               <layout class="QGridLayout" name="testgrid">