diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
index 49cfe2ce10..583ea0d554 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
@@ -1089,8 +1089,8 @@ class Cover(ImageView):  # {{{
                 cover = cf.read()
             except IOError as e:
                 d = error_dialog(self, _('Error reading file'),
-                        _("<p>There was an error reading from file: <br /><b>")
-                        + _file + "</b></p><br />"+str(e))
+                        _("<p>There was an error reading from file: <br /><b>") +
+                                 _file + "</b></p><br />"+str(e))
                 d.exec_()
             if cover:
                 orig = self.current_val
@@ -1588,6 +1588,10 @@ class PublisherEdit(EditWithComplete, ToMetadataMixin):  # {{{
         self.setSizeAdjustPolicy(
                 self.AdjustToMinimumContentsLengthWithIcon)
         self.books_to_refresh = set([])
+        self.clear_button = QToolButton(parent)
+        self.clear_button.setIcon(QIcon(I('trash.png')))
+        self.clear_button.setToolTip(_('Clear publisher'))
+        self.clear_button.clicked.connect(self.clearEditText)
 
     @dynamic_property
     def current_val(self):
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py
index 0def0c427d..75bacc0b1a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py
@@ -777,8 +777,8 @@ class MetadataSingleDialog(MetadataSingleDialogBase):  # {{{
         sto(self.timestamp.clear_button, self.pubdate)
         create_row2(5, self.pubdate, self.pubdate.clear_button)
         sto(self.pubdate.clear_button, self.publisher)
-        create_row2(6, self.publisher)
-        sto(self.publisher, self.languages)
+        create_row2(6, self.publisher, self.publisher.clear_button)
+        sto(self.publisher.clear_button, self.languages)
         create_row2(7, self.languages)
         self.tabs[0].spc_two = QSpacerItem(10, 10, QSizePolicy.Expanding,
                 QSizePolicy.Expanding)
@@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ class MetadataSingleDialogAlt1(MetadataSingleDialogBase):  # {{{
         create_row(7, self.rating, self.pubdate, button=self.clear_ratings_button)
         create_row(8, self.pubdate, self.publisher,
                    button=self.pubdate.clear_button, icon='trash.png')
-        create_row(9, self.publisher, self.languages)
+        create_row(9, self.publisher, self.languages, button=self.publisher.clear_button, icon='trash.png')
         create_row(10, self.languages, self.timestamp)
         create_row(11, self.timestamp, self.identifiers,
                    button=self.timestamp.clear_button, icon='trash.png')
@@ -1025,7 +1025,8 @@ class MetadataSingleDialogAlt2(MetadataSingleDialogBase):  # {{{
         create_row(7, self.rating, self.pubdate, button=self.clear_ratings_button)
         create_row(8, self.pubdate, self.publisher,
                    button=self.pubdate.clear_button, icon='trash.png')
-        create_row(9, self.publisher, self.languages)
+        create_row(9, self.publisher, self.languages,
+                   button=self.publisher.clear_button, icon='trash.png')
         create_row(10, self.languages, self.timestamp)
         create_row(11, self.timestamp, self.identifiers,
                    button=self.timestamp.clear_button, icon='trash.png')