diff --git a/src/calibre/db/search.py b/src/calibre/db/search.py
index 71138d0132..73934fe834 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/search.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/search.py
@@ -498,6 +498,15 @@ class Parser(SearchQueryParser):  # {{{
         if location not in self.all_search_locations:
             return matches
 
+        if location == 'vl':
+            vl = self.dbcache._pref('virtual_libraries', {}).get(query) if query else None
+            if not vl:
+                raise ParseException(_('No such virtual library: {0}').format(query))
+            try:
+                return candidates & self.dbcache.books_in_virtual_library(query)
+            except (RuntimeError):
+                raise ParseException(_('Virtual library search is recursive: {0}').format(query))
+
         if (len(location) > 2 and location.startswith('@') and
                     location[1:] in self.grouped_search_terms):
             location = location[1:]
diff --git a/src/calibre/library/field_metadata.py b/src/calibre/library/field_metadata.py
index 66153ddce5..12b35e0130 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/field_metadata.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/field_metadata.py
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ class FieldMetadata(object):
                 'int', 'float', 'bool', 'series', 'composite', 'enumeration'])
 
     # search labels that are not db columns
-    search_items = ['all', 'search']
+    search_items = ['all', 'search', 'vl']
     __calibre_serializable__ = True
 
     def __init__(self):