diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
index 25034bbfbd..9502fcb205 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ class AuthorSortEdit(EnLineEdit):
     LABEL = _('Author s&ort:')
 
     def __init__(self, parent, authors_edit, autogen_button, db,
-            copy_as_to_a_action):
+            copy_a_to_as_action, copy_as_to_a_action):
         EnLineEdit.__init__(self, parent)
         self.authors_edit = authors_edit
         self.db = db
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ class AuthorSortEdit(EnLineEdit):
         self.textChanged.connect(self.update_state)
 
         autogen_button.clicked.connect(self.auto_generate)
+        copy_a_to_as_action.triggered.connect(self.auto_generate)
         copy_as_to_a_action.triggered.connect(self.copy_to_authors)
         self.update_state()
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py
index 215a41a68d..52b9e99872 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py
@@ -109,10 +109,12 @@ class MetadataSingleDialogBase(ResizableDialog):
         'Using this button to create author sort will change author sort from'
         ' red to green.'))
         b.m = m = QMenu()
-        ac = m.addAction(QIcon(I('back.png')), _('Set author from author sort'))
+        ac = m.addAction(QIcon(I('forward.png')), _('Set author sort from author'))
+        ac2 = m.addAction(QIcon(I('back.png')), _('Set author from author sort'))
         b.setMenu(m)
         self.authors = AuthorsEdit(self)
-        self.author_sort = AuthorSortEdit(self, self.authors, b, self.db, ac)
+        self.author_sort = AuthorSortEdit(self, self.authors, b, self.db, ac,
+                ac2)
         self.basic_metadata_widgets.extend([self.authors, self.author_sort])
 
         self.swap_title_author_button = QToolButton(self)