diff --git a/beetsplug/duplicates.py b/beetsplug/duplicates.py
index 76441133f..5a2be0cd2 100644
--- a/beetsplug/duplicates.py
+++ b/beetsplug/duplicates.py
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ class DuplicatesPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             item.store()
         if delete:
             item.remove(delete=True)
-        if remove:
+        elif remove:
             item.remove(delete=False)
         if tag:
             try: