diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_list.py b/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_list.py
index 2cfee3589e..72e0262342 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_list.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_list.py
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ def cover(db, book_id):
 
 
 def implementation(
-    db, is_remote, fields, sort_by, ascending, search_text, limit
+    db, notify_changes, fields, sort_by, ascending, search_text, limit
 ):
+    is_remote = notify_changes is not None
     with db.safe_read_lock:
         fm = db.field_metadata
         afields = set(FIELDS) | {'id'}
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cli/main.py b/src/calibre/db/cli/main.py
index 7646c6d8f1..dfba14d932 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cli/main.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cli/main.py
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@ def send_message(msg=''):
         t.conn.close()
 
 
-def run_cmd(cmd, opts, args, db_ctx):
+def run_cmd(cmd, opts, args, dbctx):
     m = module_for_cmd(cmd)
-    ret = m.main(opts, args, db_ctx)
-    if not db_ctx.is_remote and not opts.dont_notify_gui and not getattr(m, 'readonly', False):
+    ret = m.main(opts, args, dbctx)
+    if not dbctx.is_remote and not opts.dont_notify_gui and not getattr(m, 'readonly', False):
         send_message()
     return ret
 
@@ -171,6 +171,12 @@ class DBCtx(object):
             self._db = LibraryDatabase(self.library_path).new_api
         return self._db
 
+    def path(self, path):
+        if self.is_remote:
+            with lopen(path, 'rb') as f:
+                return f.read()
+        return path
+
     def run(self, name, *args):
         m = module_for_cmd(name)
         if self.is_remote:
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/TODO b/src/calibre/srv/TODO
index 8044f3535e..debb8649ea 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/TODO
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/TODO
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-Rewrite calibredb to connect to running server
+Wire up cdb notify_changes for the embeded server
 Prevent standalone and embedded servers from running simultaneously
 Prevent more than a single instance of the standalone server from running
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/cdb.py b/src/calibre/srv/cdb.py
index 0c24d81405..6a1bd04e02 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/cdb.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/cdb.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def cdb_run(ctx, rd, which):
         raise HTTPBadRequest('args are not valid encoded data')
     db = get_library_data(ctx, rd, strict_library_id=True)[0]
     try:
-        result = m.implementation(db, True, *args)
+        result = m.implementation(db, ctx.notify_changes, *args)
     except Exception as err:
         import traceback
         return {'err': as_unicode(err), 'tb':traceback.format_stack()}
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/handler.py b/src/calibre/srv/handler.py
index c156619f6e..1795ef2d28 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/handler.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/handler.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class Context(object):
         self.user_manager = UserManager(opts.userdb)
         self.ignored_fields = frozenset(filter(None, (x.strip() for x in (opts.ignored_fields or '').split(','))))
         self.displayed_fields = frozenset(filter(None, (x.strip() for x in (opts.displayed_fields or '').split(','))))
+        self.notify_changes = lambda *a: None
 
     def start_job(self, name, module, func, args=(), kwargs=None, job_done_callback=None, job_data=None):
         return self.jobs_manager.start_job(name, module, func, args, kwargs, job_done_callback, job_data)