diff --git a/resources/default_tweaks.py b/resources/default_tweaks.py
index c3ac9038c9..1aa820819c 100644
--- a/resources/default_tweaks.py
+++ b/resources/default_tweaks.py
@@ -464,12 +464,15 @@ server_listen_on = '0.0.0.0'
 # on at your own risk!
 unified_title_toolbar_on_osx = False
 
-#: Save original file when converting from same format to same format
+#: Save original file when converting/polishing from same format to same format
 # When calibre does a conversion from the same format to the same format, for
 # example, from EPUB to EPUB, the original file is saved, so that in case the
 # conversion is poor, you can tweak the settings and run it again. By setting
 # this to False you can prevent calibre from saving the original file.
+# Similarly, by setting save_original_format_when_polishing to False you can
+# prevent calibre from saving the original file when polishing.
 save_original_format = True
+save_original_format_when_polishing = True
 
 #: Number of recently viewed books to show
 # Right-clicking the View button shows a list of recently viewed books. Control
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/polish.py b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/polish.py
index dd2e5c6201..56d3dcac24 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/polish.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/polish.py
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ class PolishAction(InterfaceAction):
         fmts = set()
         for path in files:
             fmt = path.rpartition('.')[-1].upper()
-            if tweaks['save_original_format']:
+            if tweaks['save_original_format_when_polishing']:
                 fmts.add(fmt)
                 db.save_original_format(book_id, fmt, notify=False)
             with open(path, 'rb') as f: