diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py
index 305309cdca..17c95573b8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py
@@ -292,6 +292,9 @@ class ConfigWidgetBase(QWidget, ConfigWidgetInterface):
             self.setupUi(self)
         self.settings = {}
         self.child_tabs = []
+        for v in self.__dict__.values():
+            if isinstance(v, ConfigTabWidget):
+                self.child_tabs.append(v)
 
     def register(self, name, config_obj, gui_name=None, choices=None,
             restart_required=False, empty_string_is_None=True, setting=Setting):
@@ -350,10 +353,6 @@ def get_plugin(category, name):
 
 class ConfigTabWidget(ConfigWidgetBase):
 
-    def __init__(self, parent=None):
-        super().__init__(parent)
-        super().register_child_tab(self)
-
     def set_changed_signal(self, changed_signal):
         self.changed_signal.connect(changed_signal)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
index 96176c7481..441b729a2f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
@@ -453,12 +453,6 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
 
     size_calculated = pyqtSignal(object)
 
-    def __init__(self, parent=None):
-        super().__init__(parent)
-        self.register_child_tab(self.tb_icon_browser_tab)
-        self.register_child_tab(self.tb_hierarchy_tab)
-        self.register_child_tab(self.cover_view)
-
     def genesis(self, gui):
         self.gui = gui
         self.ui_style_available = True