diff --git a/src/calibre/library/cli.py b/src/calibre/library/cli.py
index 15183256a5..759c77591b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/cli.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/cli.py
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ def do_add(db, paths, one_book_per_directory, recurse, add_duplicates, otitle,
                 mi.series_index = oseries_index
             if ocover:
                 mi.cover = ocover
+                mi.cover_data = (None, None)
 
             formats.append(format)
             metadata.append(mi)