diff --git a/python/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.sip b/python/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.sip
index d871b51bd73b..37473780d976 100644
--- a/python/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.sip
+++ b/python/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.sip
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ Returns a list of MIME types available by default in the wizard.
     static QMap<QString, QString> parseTypes();
 %Docstring
 Returns a list of types available by default in the wizard.
+%End
+
+    void setMapCanvas( QgsMapCanvas *canvas );
+%Docstring
+Sets a map ``canvas`` associated with the widget.
 %End
 
 };
diff --git a/src/app/qgsrasterlayerproperties.cpp b/src/app/qgsrasterlayerproperties.cpp
index 6d41512ab7e2..953ec35e8c0d 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsrasterlayerproperties.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsrasterlayerproperties.cpp
@@ -245,6 +245,7 @@ QgsRasterLayerProperties::QgsRasterLayerProperties( QgsMapLayer *lyr, QgsMapCanv
   layout->setMargin( 0 );
   mMetadataWidget = new QgsMetadataWidget( this, mRasterLayer );
   mMetadataWidget->layout()->setContentsMargins( -1, 0, -1, 0 );
+  mMetadataWidget->setMapCanvas( mMapCanvas );
   layout->addWidget( mMetadataWidget );
   metadataFrame->setLayout( layout );
 
diff --git a/src/app/qgsvectorlayerproperties.cpp b/src/app/qgsvectorlayerproperties.cpp
index 824f8c2a4b13..3bc88c8e6c0f 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsvectorlayerproperties.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsvectorlayerproperties.cpp
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ QgsVectorLayerProperties::QgsVectorLayerProperties(
   metadataLayout->setMargin( 0 );
   mMetadataWidget = new QgsMetadataWidget( this, mLayer );
   mMetadataWidget->layout()->setContentsMargins( -1, 0, -1, 0 );
+  mMetadataWidget->setMapCanvas( QgisApp::instance()->mapCanvas() );
   metadataLayout->addWidget( mMetadataWidget );
   metadataFrame->setLayout( metadataLayout );
 
diff --git a/src/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.cpp b/src/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.cpp
index e7390b967cb7..92b148df0260 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "qgslogger.h"
 #include "qgslayermetadatavalidator.h"
 #include "qgsapplication.h"
+#include "qgsmapcanvas.h"
 
 QgsMetadataWidget::QgsMetadataWidget( QWidget *parent, QgsMapLayer *layer )
   : QWidget( parent ),
@@ -805,6 +806,12 @@ QMap<QString, QString> QgsMetadataWidget::parseTypes()
   return types;
 }
 
+void QgsMetadataWidget::setMapCanvas( QgsMapCanvas *canvas )
+{
+  if ( canvas )
+    spatialExtentSelector->setCurrentExtent( canvas->extent(), canvas->mapSettings().destinationCrs() );
+}
+
 void QgsMetadataWidget::acceptMetadata()
 {
   saveMetadata( mMetadata );
diff --git a/src/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.h b/src/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.h
index 05c307001673..49f695c43c5b 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.h
+++ b/src/gui/qgsmetadatawidget.h
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsMetadataWidget : public QWidget, private Ui::QgsMetadataWidg
      */
     static QMap<QString, QString> parseTypes();
 
+    /**
+     * Sets a map \a canvas associated with the widget.
+     */
+    void setMapCanvas( QgsMapCanvas *canvas );
+
   private:
     void updatePanel() const;
     void fillSourceFromLayer() const;