diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_add.py b/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_add.py
index b7dee4673e..89104bab1b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_add.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_add.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def empty(db, notify_changes, is_remote, args):
     ids, duplicates = db.add_books([(mi, {})])
     if is_remote:
         notify_changes(books_added(ids))
-    db.dump_metadata()
+    db.dump_metadata(book_ids=ids)
     return ids, bool(duplicates)
 
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def do_adding(db, request_id, notify_changes, is_remote, mi, format_map, add_dup
         notify_changes(books_added(added_ids))
         if updated_ids:
             notify_changes(formats_added({book_id: tuple(format_map) for book_id in updated_ids}))
-    db.dump_metadata()
+    db.dump_metadata(book_ids=added_ids | updated_ids)
     return added_ids, updated_ids, duplicates