diff --git a/beetsplug/fetchart.py b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
index d9e372f53..00cecfa03 100644
--- a/beetsplug/fetchart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
@@ -212,15 +212,19 @@ def batch_fetch_art(lib, albums, force, maxwidth=None):
         if album.artpath and not force:
             message = 'has album art'
         else:
-            lookuppath = None if force else [album.path]
-            path = art_for_album(album, lookuppath, maxwidth)
+            # In ordinary invocations, look for images on the
+            # filesystem. When forcing, however, always go to the Web
+            # sources.
+            local_paths = None if force else [album.path]
 
+            path = art_for_album(album, local_paths, maxwidth)
             if path:
                 album.set_art(path, False)
                 album.store()
                 message = 'found album art'
             else:
                 message = 'no art found'
+
         log.info(u'{0} - {1}: {2}'.format(album.albumartist, album.album,
                                           message))
 
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 7240ba6ff..4d641c654 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ Other little fixes:
 * Fix a potential crash when using image resizing with the
   :doc:`/plugins/fetchart` or :doc:`/plugins/embedart` without ImageMagick
   installed.
+* :doc:`/plugins/fetchart`: The ``beet fetchart`` command can now associate
+  local images with albums (unless ``--force`` is provided). Thanks to
+  brilnius.
 
 
 1.3.2 (December 22, 2013)
diff --git a/docs/plugins/fetchart.rst b/docs/plugins/fetchart.rst
index 8a584a4ab..1682ae840 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/fetchart.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/fetchart.rst
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ been imported::
 
 By default, the command will only look for album art when the album doesn't
 already have it; the ``-f`` or ``--force`` switch makes it search for art
-regardless. If you specify a query, only matching albums will be processed;
-otherwise, the command processes every album in your library.
+in Web databases regardless. If you specify a query, only matching albums will
+be processed; otherwise, the command processes every album in your library.
 
 .. _image-resizing: