diff --git a/beetsplug/embedart.py b/beetsplug/embedart.py
index dfdabf5ef..c712081ee 100644
--- a/beetsplug/embedart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/embedart.py
@@ -99,11 +99,11 @@ def embed_item(item, imagepath, maxwidth=None, itempath=None):
     """
     try:
         item['images'] = [_mediafile_image(imagepath, maxwidth)]
-        item.try_write(itempath)
     except IOError as exc:
         log.error(u'embedart: could not read image file: {0}'.format(exc))
-    finally:
+    else:
         # We don't want to store the image in the database
+        item.try_write(itempath)
         del item['images']
 
 
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 9c5dd0d0b..b596406e9 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ Changelog
 1.3.9 (in development)
 ----------------------
 
-Changelog goes here!
+Fixes:
 
+* :doc:`/plugins/convert`: Does not crash when embedding cover art
+  fails.
 
 1.3.8 (September 17, 2014)
 --------------------------
diff --git a/test/helper.py b/test/helper.py
index 6beac5d5a..880877e01 100644
--- a/test/helper.py
+++ b/test/helper.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import os
 import os.path
 import shutil
 import subprocess
+import logging
 from tempfile import mkdtemp, mkstemp
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from StringIO import StringIO
@@ -52,6 +53,27 @@ from beets.mediafile import MediaFile
 import _common
 
 
+class LogCapture(logging.Handler):
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super(LogCapture, self).__init__()
+        self.messages = []
+
+    def emit(self, record):
+        self.messages.append(str(record.msg))
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def capture_log(logger='beets'):
+    capture = LogCapture()
+    log = logging.getLogger(logger)
+    log.addHandler(capture)
+    try:
+        yield capture.messages
+    finally:
+        log.removeHandler(capture)
+
+
 @contextmanager
 def control_stdin(input=None):
     """Sends ``input`` to stdin.
diff --git a/test/test_embedart.py b/test/test_embedart.py
index 418ad56d8..494a81523 100644
--- a/test/test_embedart.py
+++ b/test/test_embedart.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 import os.path
 import _common
 from _common import unittest
-from helper import TestHelper
+from helper import TestHelper, capture_log
 
 from beets.mediafile import MediaFile
 
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ class EmbedartCliTest(unittest.TestCase, TestHelper):
         mediafile = MediaFile(item.path)
         self.assertEqual(mediafile.images[0].data, self.image_data)
 
+    def test_art_file_missing(self):
+        self.add_album_fixture()
+        with capture_log() as logs:
+            self.run_command('embedart', '-f', '/doesnotexist')
+        self.assertIn(u'embedart: could not read image file:', ''.join(logs))
+
 
 def suite():
     return unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromName(__name__)