diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html b/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html
index 2f6ca3242..18cf66710 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html
@@ -236,14 +236,12 @@
                             <label class="label" for="id_cover">{% trans "Upload cover:" %}</label>
                             {{ form.cover }}
                         </div>
-                        {% if book %}
                         <div class="field">
                             <label class="label" for="id_cover_url">
                                 {% trans "Load cover from url:" %}
                             </label>
-                            <input class="input" name="cover-url" id="id_cover_url">
+                            <input class="input" name="cover-url" id="id_cover_url" type="url" value="{{ cover_url|default:'' }}">
                         </div>
-                        {% endif %}
                         {% for error in form.cover.errors %}
                         <p class="help is-danger">{{ error | escape }}</p>
                         {% endfor %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/books.py b/bookwyrm/views/books.py
index a31a99e71..6bd97b991 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/books.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/books.py
@@ -185,6 +185,8 @@ class EditBook(View):
             data["confirm_mode"] = True
             # this isn't preserved because it isn't part of the form obj
             data["remove_authors"] = request.POST.getlist("remove_authors")
+            data["cover_url"] = request.POST.get("cover-url")
+
             # make sure the dates are passed in as datetime, they're currently a string
             # QueryDicts are immutable, we need to copy
             formcopy = data["form"].data.copy()
@@ -261,12 +263,20 @@ class ConfirmEditBook(View):
                     work = models.Work.objects.create(title=form.cleaned_data["title"])
                     work.authors.set(book.authors.all())
                 book.parent_work = work
-                # we don't tell the world when creating a book
-                book.save(broadcast=False)
 
             for author_id in request.POST.getlist("remove_authors"):
                 book.authors.remove(author_id)
 
+            # import cover, if requested
+            url = request.POST.get("cover-url")
+            if url:
+                image = set_cover_from_url(url)
+                if image:
+                    book.cover.save(*image, save=False)
+
+            # we don't tell the world when creating a book
+            book.save(broadcast=False)
+
         return redirect(f"/book/{book.id}")