diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
index 00f5bef03d..8f275ec065 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ gprefs.defaults['auto_add_auto_convert'] = True
 gprefs.defaults['ui_style'] = 'calibre' if iswindows or isosx else 'system'
 gprefs.defaults['tag_browser_old_look'] = False
 gprefs.defaults['book_list_tooltips'] = True
+gprefs.defaults['bd_show_cover'] = True
 # }}}
 
 NONE = QVariant() #: Null value to return from the data function of item models
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py b/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py
index 3e20f8c67c..bf5fbe77bd 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py
@@ -297,7 +297,8 @@ class CoverView(QWidget): # {{{
             self.pixmap = self.default_pixmap
         self.do_layout()
         self.update()
-        if not same_item and not config['disable_animations']:
+        if (not same_item and not config['disable_animations'] and
+                self.isVisible()):
             self.animation.start()
 
     def paintEvent(self, event):
@@ -512,6 +513,7 @@ class DetailsLayout(QLayout): # {{{
         self.do_layout(r)
 
     def cover_height(self, r):
+        if not self._children[0].widget().isVisible(): return 0
         mh = min(int(r.height()/2.), int(4/3. * r.width())+1)
         try:
             ph = self._children[0].widget().pixmap.height()
@@ -522,6 +524,7 @@ class DetailsLayout(QLayout): # {{{
         return mh
 
     def cover_width(self, r):
+        if not self._children[0].widget().isVisible(): return 0
         mw = 1 + int(3/4. * r.height())
         try:
             pw = self._children[0].widget().pixmap.width()
@@ -660,6 +663,7 @@ class BookDetails(QWidget): # {{{
         self.update_layout()
 
     def update_layout(self):
+        self.cover_view.setVisible(gprefs['bd_show_cover'])
         self._layout.do_layout(self.rect())
         self.cover_view.update_tooltip(self.current_path)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
index 8ca6b96379..65e6ab6d9f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
                     'calibre')])
         r('book_list_tooltips', gprefs)
         r('tag_browser_old_look', gprefs, restart_required=True)
+        r('bd_show_cover', gprefs)
 
         r('cover_flow_queue_length', config, restart_required=True)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
index bb60f3db2a..2a4397b22d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
@@ -212,19 +212,32 @@
        <string>Book Details</string>
       </attribute>
       <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_12">
-       <item row="1" column="0" rowspan="2">
+       <item row="2" column="1">
+        <widget class="QLabel" name="label_3">
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>Note that &lt;b&gt;comments&lt;/b&gt; will always be displayed at the end, regardless of the position you assign here.</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="wordWrap">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item row="0" column="1">
+        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="opt_use_roman_numerals_for_series_number">
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>Use &amp;Roman numerals for series</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="checked">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item row="2" column="0" rowspan="2">
         <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox">
          <property name="title">
           <string>Select displayed metadata</string>
          </property>
          <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_3">
-          <item row="0" column="0" rowspan="3">
-           <widget class="QListView" name="field_display_order">
-            <property name="alternatingRowColors">
-             <bool>true</bool>
-            </property>
-           </widget>
-          </item>
           <item row="0" column="1">
            <widget class="QToolButton" name="df_up_button">
             <property name="toolTip">
@@ -247,6 +260,13 @@
             </property>
            </widget>
           </item>
+          <item row="0" column="0" rowspan="3">
+           <widget class="QListView" name="field_display_order">
+            <property name="alternatingRowColors">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
           <item row="1" column="1">
            <spacer name="verticalSpacer_5">
             <property name="orientation">
@@ -288,23 +308,10 @@ Manage Authors. You can use the values {author} and
          </item>
         </layout>
        </item>
-       <item row="0" column="1">
-        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="opt_use_roman_numerals_for_series_number">
+       <item row="1" column="0" colspan="2">
+        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="opt_bd_show_cover">
          <property name="text">
-          <string>Use &amp;Roman numerals for series</string>
-         </property>
-         <property name="checked">
-          <bool>true</bool>
-         </property>
-        </widget>
-       </item>
-       <item row="1" column="1">
-        <widget class="QLabel" name="label_3">
-         <property name="text">
-          <string>Note that &lt;b&gt;comments&lt;/b&gt; will always be displayed at the end, regardless of the position you assign here.</string>
-         </property>
-         <property name="wordWrap">
-          <bool>true</bool>
+          <string>Show &amp;cover in the book details panel</string>
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>