diff --git a/beetsplug/embedart.py b/beetsplug/embedart.py
index 99be2180f..10b30af0f 100644
--- a/beetsplug/embedart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/embedart.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ class EmbedCoverArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             'auto': True,
             'compare_threshold': 0,
             'ifempty': False,
+            'remove_art_file': False
         })
 
         if self.config['maxwidth'].get(int) and not ArtResizer.shared.local:
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ class EmbedCoverArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         maxwidth = self.config['maxwidth'].get(int)
         compare_threshold = self.config['compare_threshold'].get(int)
         ifempty = self.config['ifempty'].get(bool)
+        remove_art_file = self.config['remove_art_file'].get(bool)
 
         def embed_func(lib, opts, args):
             if opts.file:
@@ -78,6 +80,14 @@ class EmbedCoverArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                     art.embed_album(self._log, album, maxwidth, False,
                                     compare_threshold, ifempty)
 
+                    if remove_art_file and album.artpath is not None:
+                        if os.path.isfile(album.artpath):
+                            self._log.debug(u'Removing album art file '
+                                            u'for {0}', album)
+                            os.remove(album.artpath)
+                            album.artpath = None
+                            album.store()
+
         embed_cmd.func = embed_func
 
         # Extract command.
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index f173e7c0a..1e0e56518 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ The new features:
 * :doc:`/plugins/play`: A new ``raw`` configuration option lets the command
   work with players (such as VLC) that expect music filenames as arguments,
   rather than in a playlist. Thanks to :user:`nathdwek`. :bug:`1578`
+* :doc:`/plugins/embedart`: A new ``remove_art_file`` option lets you clean up
+  if you prefer *only* embedded album art. Thanks to :user:`jackwilsdon`.
+  :bug:`1591` :bug:`733`
 
 Fixes:
 
diff --git a/docs/plugins/embedart.rst b/docs/plugins/embedart.rst
index f234bc057..41cfaa87c 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/embedart.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/embedart.rst
@@ -58,6 +58,12 @@ file. The available options are:
   the aspect ratio is preserved. See also :ref:`image-resizing` for further
   caveats about image resizing.
   Default: 0 (disabled).
+- **remove_art_file**: Automatically remove the album art file for the album
+  after it has been embedded. This option is best used alongside the
+  :doc:`FetchArt </plugins/fetchart>` plugin to download art with the purpose of
+  directly embedding it into the file's metadata without an "intermediate"
+  album art file.
+  Default: ``no``.
 
 Note: ``compare_threshold`` option requires `ImageMagick`_, and ``maxwidth``
 requires either `ImageMagick`_ or `PIL`_.
diff --git a/docs/reference/config.rst b/docs/reference/config.rst
index 64f2f446f..8494dba07 100644
--- a/docs/reference/config.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/config.rst
@@ -164,7 +164,10 @@ threaded
 ~~~~~~~~
 
 Either ``yes`` or ``no``, indicating whether the autotagger should use
-multiple threads. This makes things faster but may behave strangely.
+multiple threads. This makes things substantially faster by overlapping work:
+for example, it can copy files for one album in parallel with looking up data
+in MusicBrainz for a different album. You may want to disable this when
+debugging problems with the autotagger.
 Defaults to ``yes``.