diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
index 1bdaacf7ab..37e71a6340 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def get_cover_data(stream, ext):  # {{{
 
 Settings = namedtuple('Settings', 'remove_all remove add au aus do_aus rating pub do_series do_autonumber do_remove_format '
                       'remove_format do_swap_ta do_remove_conv do_auto_author series do_series_restart series_start_value '
-                      'do_title_case cover_action clear_series pubdate adddate do_title_sort languages clear_languages restore_original comments')
+                      'do_title_case cover_action clear_series clear_pub pubdate adddate do_title_sort languages clear_languages restore_original comments')
 null = object()
 
 class MyBlockingBusy(QDialog):  # {{{
@@ -240,6 +240,9 @@ class MyBlockingBusy(QDialog):  # {{{
         if args.rating != -1:
             cache.set_field('rating', {bid:args.rating*2 for bid in self.ids})
 
+        if args.clear_pub:
+            cache.set_field('publisher', {bid:'' for bid in self.ids})
+
         if args.pub:
             cache.set_field('publisher', {bid:args.pub for bid in self.ids})
 
@@ -957,6 +960,7 @@ class MetadataBulkDialog(ResizableDialog, Ui_MetadataBulkDialog):
         pub = unicode(self.publisher.text())
         do_series = self.write_series
         clear_series = self.clear_series.isChecked()
+        clear_pub = self.clear_pub.isChecked()
         series = unicode(self.series.currentText()).strip()
         do_autonumber = self.autonumber_series.isChecked()
         do_series_restart = self.series_numbering_restarts.isChecked()
@@ -992,7 +996,7 @@ class MetadataBulkDialog(ResizableDialog, Ui_MetadataBulkDialog):
         args = Settings(remove_all, remove, add, au, aus, do_aus, rating, pub, do_series,
                 do_autonumber, do_remove_format, remove_format, do_swap_ta,
                 do_remove_conv, do_auto_author, series, do_series_restart,
-                series_start_value, do_title_case, cover_action, clear_series,
+                series_start_value, do_title_case, cover_action, clear_series, clear_pub,
                 pubdate, adddate, do_title_sort, languages, clear_languages,
                 restore_original, self.comments)
 
@@ -1023,7 +1027,7 @@ class MetadataBulkDialog(ResizableDialog, Ui_MetadataBulkDialog):
         return QDialog.accept(self)
 
     def series_changed(self, *args):
-        self.write_series = True
+        self.write_series = bool(unicode(self.series.currentText()).strip())
         self.autonumber_series.setEnabled(True)
 
     def s_r_remove_query(self, *args):
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
index b6e86652e8..33cdf438d6 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
@@ -662,6 +662,16 @@ as that of the first selected book.</string>
              </property>
             </widget>
            </item>
+           <item row="4" column="2">
+            <widget class="QCheckBox" name="clear_pub">
+             <property name="toolTip">
+              <string>If checked, the publisher will be cleared</string>
+             </property>
+             <property name="text">
+              <string>&amp;Clear pub</string>
+             </property>
+            </widget>
+           </item>
           </layout>
          </widget>
          <widget class="QWidget" name="tab">