diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 73bc09969..8141e473b 100755
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -416,6 +416,10 @@ def import_files(lib, paths, copy, write, autot, logpath, art, threaded,
         if not os.path.isdir(syspath(path)):
             raise ui.UserError('not a directory: ' + path)
 
+    # Check parameter consistency.
+    if quiet and timid:
+        raise ui.UserError("can't be both quiet and timid")
+
     # Open the log.
     if logpath:
         logfile = open(logpath, 'w')
diff --git a/test/test_ui.py b/test/test_ui.py
index 756198855..f56d45c32 100644
--- a/test/test_ui.py
+++ b/test/test_ui.py
@@ -164,6 +164,12 @@ class AutotagTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.io.addinput('u')
         self._no_candidates_test(importer.action.ASIS)
 
+class ImportTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_quiet_timid_disallowed(self):
+        self.assertRaises(ui.UserError, commands.import_files,
+                          None, [], False, False, False, None, False, False,
+                          False, False, True, False, None, False, True)
+
 class InputTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.io = _common.DummyIO()