diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/globals.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/globals.pyj
index b65fc9ce4f..b21d79b246 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/globals.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/globals.pyj
@@ -33,9 +33,3 @@ def get_translations(val):
     if val:
         get_translations.ans = val
     return get_translations.ans
-
-
-def get_read_ui(val):
-    if val:
-        get_read_ui.ans = val
-    return get_read_ui.ans
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/main.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/main.pyj
index 1676e5c3aa..b52de2eb9a 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/main.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/main.pyj
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from book_list.constants import book_list_container_id, read_book_container_id,
 from book_list.library_data import fetch_init_data, update_library_data, url_books_query
 from book_list.theme import get_color, get_font_family
 from book_list.router import update_window_title, set_default_mode_handler, apply_url, set_mode_handler, on_pop_state
-from book_list.globals import get_db, set_session_data, get_read_ui
+from book_list.globals import get_db, set_session_data
 from book_list.ui import apply_url_state as book_list_mode_handler
 from read_book.ui import ReadUI
 
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ def init_ui():
     read_ui = ReadUI()
     get_db(read_ui.db)
     set_mode_handler('read_book', read_ui.apply_url_state.bind(read_ui))
-    get_read_ui(read_ui)
     apply_url()
 
 
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/globals.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/globals.pyj
index d2ba28b0c2..51b44619c3 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/globals.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/globals.pyj
@@ -75,4 +75,6 @@ ui_operations = {
     'redisplay_book': None,
     'reload_book': None,
     'forward_gesture': None,
+    'update_color_scheme': None,
+    'update_font_size': None,
 }
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/colors.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/colors.pyj
index 07e647af8a..e27a7aa19e 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/colors.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/colors.pyj
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ from __python__ import hash_literals, bound_methods
 from gettext import gettext as _
 from dom import svgicon, set_css, add_extra_css, build_rule, clear, unique_id
 from elementmaker import E
-from book_list.globals import get_session_data, get_read_ui
-from read_book.globals import default_color_schemes
+from book_list.globals import get_session_data
+from read_book.globals import default_color_schemes, ui_operations
 from modals import error_dialog
 from widgets import create_button
 
@@ -220,4 +220,4 @@ def commit_colors(onchange):
     if rcs.foreground is not c.dataset.fg or rcs.background is not c.dataset.bg:
         sd = get_session_data()
         sd.set('current_color_scheme', ccs)
-        get_read_ui().update_color_scheme()
+        ui_operations.update_color_scheme()
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/font_size.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/font_size.pyj
index f8e397f0a4..6dd9becc3e 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/font_size.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/font_size.pyj
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 # vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2016, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
-from __python__ import hash_literals, bound_methods
+from __python__ import bound_methods, hash_literals
 
-from dom import unique_id, set_css, add_extra_css, rule, element
 from elementmaker import E
 from gettext import gettext as _
-from widgets import create_button
-from book_list.globals import get_session_data, get_read_ui
+
+from book_list.globals import get_session_data
 from book_list.theme import get_color
+from dom import add_extra_css, element, rule, set_css, unique_id
+from read_book.globals import ui_operations
+from widgets import create_button
 
 CONTAINER = unique_id('font-size-prefs')
 QUICK = unique_id('quick')
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ def change_font_size(sz):
     sd = get_session_data()
     if sd.get('base_font_size') is not sz:
         sd.set('base_font_size', sz)
-        get_read_ui().update_font_size()
+        ui_operations.update_font_size()
 
 def set_quick_size(ev):
     li = ev.currentTarget
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
index e3dd29cffc..0bf1b5f40f 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ class ReadUI:
         ui_operations.redisplay_book = self.redisplay_book.bind(self)
         ui_operations.reload_book = self.reload_book.bind(self)
         ui_operations.forward_gesture = self.forward_gesture.bind(self)
+        ui_operations.update_color_scheme = self.update_color_scheme.bind(self)
+        ui_operations.update_font_size = self.update_font_size.bind(self)
 
     def on_resize(self):
         self.view.on_resize()
diff --git a/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj b/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj
index c35382f783..d04fd6163e 100644
--- a/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/viewer-main.pyj
@@ -218,6 +218,14 @@ def forward_gesture(gesture):
     view.forward_gesture(gesture)
 
 
+def update_color_scheme():
+    view.update_color_scheme()
+
+
+def update_font_size():
+    view.update_font_size()
+
+
 if window is window.top:
     # main
     ui_operations.get_file = get_file
@@ -227,6 +235,8 @@ if window is window.top:
     ui_operations.redisplay_book = redisplay_book
     ui_operations.reload_book = reload_book
     ui_operations.forward_gesture = forward_gesture
+    ui_operations.update_color_scheme = update_color_scheme
+    ui_operations.update_font_size = update_font_size
     document.body.appendChild(E.div(id='view'))
     window.onerror = onerror
     create_modal_container()