diff --git a/src/calibre/library/caches.py b/src/calibre/library/caches.py
index 714579ec77..339f1393f5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/caches.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/caches.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class MetadataBackup(Thread): # {{{
                 time.sleep(2)
                 if not self.dump_func([id_]):
                     prints('Failed to backup metadata for id:', id_, 'again, giving up')
+            time.sleep(0.2) # Limit to five per second
 
 # }}}
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/library/database2.py b/src/calibre/library/database2.py
index a34ef9cf89..f62c4ce074 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/database2.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/database2.py
@@ -455,6 +455,8 @@ class LibraryDatabase2(LibraryDatabase, SchemaUpgrade, CustomColumns):
                 self.add_format(id, format, stream, index_is_id=True,
                         path=tpath, notify=False)
         self.conn.execute('UPDATE books SET path=? WHERE id=?', (path, id))
+        self.dirtied([id], commit=False)
+        self.commit()
         self.data.set(id, self.FIELD_MAP['path'], path, row_is_id=True)
         # Delete not needed directories
         if current_path and os.path.exists(spath):