diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index e688f4c44..0a32be08a 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -1415,7 +1415,7 @@ default_commands.append(move_cmd)
 
 # write: Write tags into files.
 
-def write_items(lib, query, pretend):
+def write_items(lib, query, pretend, always):
     """Write tag information from the database to the respective files
     in the filesystem.
     """
@@ -1440,13 +1440,13 @@ def write_items(lib, query, pretend):
 
         # Check for and display changes.
         changed = ui.show_model_changes(item, clean_item,
-                                        library.Item._media_fields)
-        if changed and not pretend:
+                                        library.Item._media_fields, always)
+        if (changed or always) and not pretend:
             item.try_write()
 
 
 def write_func(lib, opts, args):
-    write_items(lib, decargs(args), opts.pretend)
+    write_items(lib, decargs(args), opts.pretend, opts.always)
 
 
 write_cmd = ui.Subcommand('write', help='write tag information to files')
@@ -1454,6 +1454,10 @@ write_cmd.parser.add_option(
     '-p', '--pretend', action='store_true',
     help="show all changes but do nothing"
 )
+write_cmd.parser.add_option(
+    '-a', '--always', action='store_true',
+    help="write tags even if the existing tags match the database"
+)
 write_cmd.func = write_func
 default_commands.append(write_cmd)
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/cli.rst b/docs/reference/cli.rst
index 391dfa0e6..b295e0916 100644
--- a/docs/reference/cli.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/cli.rst
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ write
 `````
 ::
 
-    beet write [-p] [QUERY]
+    beet write [-pa] [QUERY]
 
 Write metadata from the database into files' tags.
 
@@ -294,9 +294,12 @@ have the option of storing changes only in the database, leaving your files
 untouched. The ``write`` command lets you later change your mind and write the
 contents of the database into the files.
 
+You can think of this command as the opposite of :ref:`update-cmd`.
+
 The ``-p`` option previews metadata changes without actually applying them.
 
-You can think of this command as the opposite of :ref:`update-cmd`.
+The ``-a`` option forces a write to the file, even if the file tags match the database. This is useful for making sure that enabled plugins that run on write (e.g., the Scrub and Zero plugins) are run on the file. 
+
 
 
 .. _stats-cmd: