diff --git a/src/calibre/db/legacy.py b/src/calibre/db/legacy.py
index fff77948f8..a4d5a332e5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/legacy.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/legacy.py
@@ -664,6 +664,11 @@ class LibraryDatabase(object):
         if changed and notify:
             self.notify('metadata', [])
 
+    def remove_cover(self, book_id, notify=True, commit=True):
+        self.new_api.set_cover({book_id:None})
+        if notify:
+            self.notify('cover', [id])
+
     # Private interface {{{
     def __iter__(self):
         for row in self.data.iterall():
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/tests/legacy.py b/src/calibre/db/tests/legacy.py
index aa70a9bb1d..4f448b5113 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/tests/legacy.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/tests/legacy.py
@@ -345,6 +345,12 @@ class LegacyTest(BaseTest):
             self.assertEqual(cache.field_for('authors', bid), ('calibre',))
             self.assertEqual(cache.field_for('tags', bid), (_('News'), 'Events', 'one', 'two'))
 
+        self.assertTrue(legacy.cover(1, index_is_id=True))
+        self.assertTrue(legacy.has_cover(1))
+        legacy.remove_cover(1)
+        self.assertFalse(legacy.has_cover(1))
+        self.assertFalse(legacy.cover(1, index_is_id=True))
+
         legacy.delete_book(1)
         old.delete_book(1)
         self.assertNotIn(1, legacy.all_ids())