diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cache.py b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
index fd71d1c8fe..05bf3dfcc5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cache.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
@@ -716,7 +716,9 @@ class Cache:
         references resources their hashes must be present in resource_hashes. Set remove_unused_resources to True to cleanup unused
         resources, note that updating a note automatically cleans up resources pertaining to that note anyway.
         '''
-        return self.backend.set_notes_for(field, item_id, doc, searchable_text, resource_hashes, remove_unused_resources)
+        ans = self.backend.set_notes_for(field, item_id, doc, searchable_text, resource_hashes, remove_unused_resources)
+        self.event_dispatcher(EventType.notes_changed, field, item_id)
+        return ans
 
     @write_api
     def add_notes_resource(self, path_or_stream_or_data, name: str, mtime: float = None) -> int:
@@ -736,7 +738,9 @@ class Cache:
     @write_api
     def unretire_note_for(self, field, item_id) -> int:
         ' Unretire a previously retired note for the specified item. Notes are retired when an item is removed from the database '
-        return self.backend.unretire_note_for(field, item_id)
+        ans = self.backend.unretire_note_for(field, item_id)
+        self.event_dispatcher(EventType.notes_changed, field, item_id)
+        return ans
 
     @read_api
     def export_note(self, field, item_id) -> str:
@@ -756,7 +760,9 @@ class Cache:
                 st = os.stat(f.fileno())
                 ctime, mtime = st.st_ctime, st.st_mtime
             basedir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(path_to_html_file))
-        return self.backend.import_note(field, item_id, html, basedir, ctime, mtime)
+        ans = self.backend.import_note(field, item_id, html, basedir, ctime, mtime)
+        self.event_dispatcher(EventType.notes_changed, field, item_id)
+        return ans
 
     @write_api  # we need to use write locking as SQLITE gives a locked table error if multiple FTS queries are made at the same time
     def search_notes(
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/listeners.py b/src/calibre/db/listeners.py
index b6e2fb2850..a372aa41c6 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/listeners.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/listeners.py
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ class EventType(Enum):
     #: When the indexing progress changes
     indexing_progress_changed = auto()
 
+    #: When the notes associated with an item are changed, with arguments: (field_name, item_id)
+    notes_changed = auto()
+
 
 class EventDispatcher(Thread):