diff --git a/beets/autotag/__init__.py b/beets/autotag/__init__.py
index 1e7e7a2dd..45238db8f 100644
--- a/beets/autotag/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/autotag/__init__.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ from beets.util import sorted_walk, ancestry, displayable_path
 from .hooks import AlbumInfo, TrackInfo, AlbumMatch, TrackMatch
 from .match import AutotagError
 from .match import tag_item, tag_album
-from .match import RECOMMEND_STRONG, RECOMMEND_MEDIUM, RECOMMEND_NONE
+from .match import \
+    RECOMMEND_STRONG, RECOMMEND_MEDIUM, RECOMMEND_LOW, RECOMMEND_NONE
 
 # Global logger.
 log = logging.getLogger('beets')
diff --git a/beets/autotag/match.py b/beets/autotag/match.py
index 4b80a4111..63aa6450f 100644
--- a/beets/autotag/match.py
+++ b/beets/autotag/match.py
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ SD_REPLACE = [
 # Recommendation constants.
 RECOMMEND_STRONG = 'RECOMMEND_STRONG'
 RECOMMEND_MEDIUM = 'RECOMMEND_MEDIUM'
+RECOMMEND_LOW = 'RECOMMEND_LOW'
 RECOMMEND_NONE = 'RECOMMEND_NONE'
 
 # Artist signals that indicate "various artists". These are used at the
@@ -332,6 +333,11 @@ def recommendation(results):
     else:
         min_dist = results[0].distance
         if min_dist < config['match']['strong_rec_thresh'].as_number():
+            # Reduce to medium rec if partial releases are not allowed.
+            if isinstance(results[0], hooks.AlbumMatch) and \
+                    config['import']['confirm_partial'] and \
+                    (results[0].extra_items or results[0].extra_tracks):
+                return RECOMMEND_MEDIUM
             # Strong recommendation level.
             rec = RECOMMEND_STRONG
         elif len(results) == 1:
@@ -343,7 +349,7 @@ def recommendation(results):
         elif results[1].distance - min_dist >= \
                     config['match']['rec_gap_thresh'].as_number():
             # Gap between first two candidates is large.
-            rec = RECOMMEND_MEDIUM
+            rec = RECOMMEND_LOW
         else:
             # No conclusion.
             rec = RECOMMEND_NONE
diff --git a/beets/config_default.yaml b/beets/config_default.yaml
index c91a8ce95..56f1a0055 100644
--- a/beets/config_default.yaml
+++ b/beets/config_default.yaml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import:
     autotag: yes
     quiet: no
     singletons: no
+    confirm_partial: no
 
 ignore: [".*", "*~"]
 replace:
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 66669f7b9..7b279fae6 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ def choose_candidate(candidates, singleton, rec, cur_artist=None,
         bypass_candidates = True
 
     while True:
+        require = rec in (autotag.RECOMMEND_NONE, autotag.RECOMMEND_LOW)
         # Display and choose from candidates.
         if not bypass_candidates:
             # Display list of candidates.
@@ -391,6 +392,9 @@ def choose_candidate(candidates, singleton, rec, cur_artist=None,
                     match = candidates[sel - 1]
                 else:
                     match = candidates[sel - 1]
+                # Require selection (no default).
+                if sel != 1:
+                    require = True
         bypass_candidates = False
 
         # Show what we're about to do.
@@ -410,7 +414,10 @@ def choose_candidate(candidates, singleton, rec, cur_artist=None,
         else:
             opts = ('Apply', 'More candidates', 'Skip', 'Use as-is',
                     'as Tracks', 'Enter search', 'enter Id', 'aBort')
-        sel = ui.input_options(opts)
+            if config['import']['confirm_partial'].get(bool) and \
+                    match.extra_items or match.extra_tracks:
+                require = True
+        sel = ui.input_options(opts, require=require)
         if sel == 'a':
             return match
         elif sel == 'm':
diff --git a/docs/reference/config.rst b/docs/reference/config.rst
index 73bca4001..02a5714f5 100644
--- a/docs/reference/config.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/config.rst
@@ -265,6 +265,15 @@ Specifies a filename where the importer's log should be kept.  By default,
 no log is written. This can be overridden with the ``-l`` flag to
 ``import``.
 
+confirm_partial
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Either ``yes`` or ``no``. If ``yes``, strong recommendations for partial
+matches will be downgraded to medium so that they are not auto-tagged and must
+be confirmed. The default selection on confirmation prompts for partial matches
+will also be removed, so that the user must actually make a choice and cannot
+accidentally apply changes. The default is ``no``.
+
 .. _musicbrainz-config:
 
 MusicBrainz Options