diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cache.py b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
index e3b02309f4..14a8279b3e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cache.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
@@ -628,14 +628,17 @@ class Cache:
     # Cache Layer API {{{
 
     @write_api
-    def add_listener(self, event_callback_function):
+    def add_listener(self, event_callback_function, check_already_added=False):
         '''
         Register a callback function that will be called after certain actions are
         taken on this database. The function must take three arguments:
         (:class:`EventType`, library_id, event_type_specific_data)
         '''
         self.event_dispatcher.library_id = getattr(self, 'server_library_id', self.library_id)
+        if check_already_added and event_callback_function in self.event_dispatcher:
+            return False
         self.event_dispatcher.add_listener(event_callback_function)
+        return True
 
     @write_api
     def remove_listener(self, event_callback_function):
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/listeners.py b/src/calibre/db/listeners.py
index 20b0c58a54..f8d2f4a151 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/listeners.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/listeners.py
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ class EventDispatcher(Thread):
         with suppress(ValueError):
             self.refs.remove(ref)
 
+    def __contains__(self, callback):
+        ref = weakref.ref(callback)
+        return ref in self.refs
+
     def __call__(self, event_name, *args):
         if self.activated:
             self.queue.put((event_name, self.library_id, args))