diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py
index 711658020a..346bf97336 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_single.py
@@ -252,9 +252,19 @@ class MetadataSingleDialog(ResizableDialog, Ui_MetadataSingleDialog):
             if ext not in extensions:
                 self.db.remove_format(self.row, ext, notify=False)
 
-    def __init__(self, window, row, db, accepted_callback=None):
+    def do_cancel_all(self):
+        self.cancel_all = True
+        self.reject()
+
+    def __init__(self, window, row, db, accepted_callback=None, cancel_all=False):
         ResizableDialog.__init__(self, window)
         self.bc_box.layout().setAlignment(self.cover, Qt.AlignCenter|Qt.AlignHCenter)
+        self.cancel_all = False
+        if cancel_all:
+            self.__abort_button = self.button_box.addButton(self.button_box.Abort)
+            self.__abort_button.setToolTip(_('Abort the editing of all remaining books'))
+            self.connect(self.__abort_button, SIGNAL('clicked()'),
+                    self.do_cancel_all)
         self.splitter.setStretchFactor(100, 1)
         self.db = db
         self.pi = ProgressIndicator(self)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/main.py b/src/calibre/gui2/main.py
index 54da45fadd..1724565305 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/main.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/main.py
@@ -1025,10 +1025,13 @@ class Main(MainWindow, Ui_MainWindow, DeviceGUI):
             self._metadata_view_id = self.library_view.model().db.id(row.row())
             d = MetadataSingleDialog(self, row.row(),
                                     self.library_view.model().db,
-                                    accepted_callback=accepted)
+                                    accepted_callback=accepted,
+                                    cancel_all=rows.index(row) < len(rows)-1)
             self.connect(d, SIGNAL('view_format(PyQt_PyObject)'),
                     self.metadata_view_format)
             d.exec_()
+            if d.cancel_all:
+                break
         if rows:
             current = self.library_view.currentIndex()
             self.library_view.model().current_changed(current, previous)