diff --git a/beetsplug/info.py b/beetsplug/info.py
index 53c33c4c7..8dd4ccaa6 100644
--- a/beetsplug/info.py
+++ b/beetsplug/info.py
@@ -15,12 +15,15 @@
 """Shows file metadata.
 """
 
+import os
+
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
 from beets import library
 from beets import ui
 from beets import mediafile
 from beets import util
 
+
 def info(paths):
     # Set up fields to output.
     fields = []
@@ -39,11 +42,18 @@ def info(paths):
             ui.print_()
 
         path = util.normpath(path)
+        if not os.path.isfile(path):
+            ui.print_(u'not a file: {0}'.format(
+                util.displayable_path(path)
+            ))
+            continue
         ui.print_(path)
         try:
             mf = mediafile.MediaFile(path)
         except mediafile.UnreadableFileError:
-            ui.print_('cannot read file')
+            ui.print_('cannot read file: {0}'.format(
+                util.displayable_path(path)
+            ))
             continue
 
         # Basic fields.
@@ -52,9 +62,9 @@ def info(paths):
         # Extra stuff.
         ui.print_(lineformat.format('album art', mf.art is not None))
 
-
         first = False
 
+
 class InfoPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
     def commands(self):
         cmd = ui.Subcommand('info', help='show file metadata')
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 0c30c4589..6c83f2f57 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ And some fixes:
   unrecognized type.
 * :doc:`/plugins/mbcollection`: Detect, log, and skip invalid MusicBrainz IDs
   (instead of failing with an API error).
+* :doc:`/plugins/info`: Fail gracefully when used erroneously with a
+  directory.
 
 .. _Opus: http://www.opus-codec.org/