diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
index 5a039e7bc1..f59d228ce6 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ class LibraryViewMixin(object): # {{{
                              ('connect_to_search_box', (self.search,
                                  self.search_done)),
                              ('connect_to_book_display',
-                                 (self.status_bar.book_info.show_data,)),
+                                 (self.book_details.show_data,)),
                              ]:
             for view in (self.library_view, self.memory_view, self.card_a_view, self.card_b_view):
                 getattr(view, func)(*args)
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ class LayoutMixin(object): # {{{
 
         if config['gui_layout'] == 'narrow':
             from calibre.gui2.status import StatusBar
-            self.status_bar = StatusBar(self)
+            self.status_bar = self.book_details = StatusBar(self)
             self.stack = Stack(self)
             self.bd_splitter = Splitter('book_details_splitter',
                     _('Book Details'), I('book.svg'),
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/status.py b/src/calibre/gui2/status.py
index fa8a249ae8..7c78d6f3e1 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/status.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/status.py
@@ -178,16 +178,32 @@ class StatusBarInterface(object):
                     msg = msg.encode('utf-8')
             self.notifier(msg)
 
+    def clear_message(self):
+        QStatusBar.clearMessage(self)
 
-class StatusBar(QStatusBar, StatusBarInterface):
+class BookDetailsInterface(object):
+
+    # These signals must be defined in the class implementing this interface
+    files_dropped = None
+    show_book_info = None
+
+    def reset_info(self):
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
+    def show_data(self, data):
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
+class StatusBar(QStatusBar, StatusBarInterface, BookDetailsInterface):
 
-    resized = pyqtSignal(object)
     files_dropped = pyqtSignal(object, object)
     show_book_info = pyqtSignal()
 
+
+    resized = pyqtSignal(object)
+
     def initialize(self, systray=None):
         StatusBarInterface.initialize(self, systray=systray)
-        self.book_info = BookInfoDisplay(self.clearMessage)
+        self.book_info = BookInfoDisplay(self.clear_message)
         self.book_info.setAcceptDrops(True)
         self.scroll_area = QScrollArea()
         self.scroll_area.setWidget(self.book_info)
@@ -207,4 +223,6 @@ class StatusBar(QStatusBar, StatusBarInterface):
     def reset_info(self):
         self.book_info.show_data({})
 
+    def show_data(self, data):
+        self.book_info.show_data(data)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
index 1d268235a9..5824171213 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
@@ -256,8 +256,8 @@ class Main(MainWindow, Ui_MainWindow, DeviceMixin, ToolbarMixin,
 
         ####################### Status Bar #####################
         self.status_bar.initialize(self.system_tray_icon)
-        self.status_bar.show_book_info.connect(self.show_book_info)
-        self.status_bar.files_dropped.connect(self.files_dropped_on_book)
+        self.book_details.show_book_info.connect(self.show_book_info)
+        self.book_details.files_dropped.connect(self.files_dropped_on_book)
 
         ####################### Setup Toolbar #####################
         ToolbarMixin.__init__(self)
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ class Main(MainWindow, Ui_MainWindow, DeviceMixin, ToolbarMixin,
                     dict(version=self.latest_version, device=' '))
             self.device_info = ' '
             if self.current_view() != self.library_view:
-                self.status_bar.reset_info()
+                self.book_details.reset_info()
                 self.location_view.setCurrentIndex(self.location_view.model().index(0))
             self.eject_action.setEnabled(False)
             self.refresh_ondevice_info (device_connected = False)
@@ -1802,9 +1802,9 @@ class Main(MainWindow, Ui_MainWindow, DeviceMixin, ToolbarMixin,
         self.library_view.set_database(db)
         self.tags_view.set_database(db, self.tag_match, self.popularity)
         self.library_view.model().set_book_on_device_func(self.book_on_device)
-        self.status_bar.clearMessage()
+        self.status_bar.clear_message()
         self.search.clear_to_help()
-        self.status_bar.reset_info()
+        self.book_details.reset_info()
         self.library_view.model().count_changed()
         prefs['library_path'] = self.library_path
 
@@ -1831,7 +1831,7 @@ class Main(MainWindow, Ui_MainWindow, DeviceMixin, ToolbarMixin,
         '''
         page = 0 if location == 'library' else 1 if location == 'main' else 2 if location == 'carda' else 3
         self.stack.setCurrentIndex(page)
-        self.status_bar.reset_info()
+        self.book_details.reset_info()
         for x in ('tb', 'cb'):
             splitter = getattr(self, x+'_splitter')
             splitter.button.setEnabled(location == 'library')