diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 25edd20ca..5167ec746 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -622,9 +622,8 @@ def import_files(lib, paths, query):
         raise ui.UserError("can't be both quiet and timid")
 
     # Open the log.
-    logpath = config['import']['log'].as_filename()
-    if logpath:
-        logpath = normpath(logpath)
+    if config['import']['log'].get() is not None:
+        logpath = config['import']['log'].as_filename()
         try:
             logfile = open(syspath(logpath), 'a')
         except IOError:
diff --git a/beets/util/confit.py b/beets/util/confit.py
index 01191d8ce..8db60bd62 100644
--- a/beets/util/confit.py
+++ b/beets/util/confit.py
@@ -319,6 +319,10 @@ class ConfigView(object):
         is relative to the current working directory.
         """
         path, source = self.first()
+        if not isinstance(path, BASESTRING):
+            raise ConfigTypeError('{0} must be a filename, not {1}'.format(
+                self.name, type(path).__name__
+            ))
         path = os.path.expanduser(STRING(path))
 
         if source.default: