diff --git a/beets/importer.py b/beets/importer.py
index 063e8f326..8be2c2c8e 100644
--- a/beets/importer.py
+++ b/beets/importer.py
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ def query_tasks(session):
             yield ImportTask(None, [album.item_dir()], items)
 
 
-@pipeline.stage
+@pipeline.mutator_stage
 def lookup_candidates(session, task):
     """A coroutine for performing the initial MusicBrainz lookup for an
     album. It accepts lists of Items and yields
@@ -937,12 +937,11 @@ def lookup_candidates(session, task):
     is found, all of the yielded parameters (except items) are None.
     """
     if task.skip:
-        return task
+        return
 
     plugins.send('import_task_start', session=session, task=task)
     log.debug('Looking up: %s' % displayable_path(task.paths))
     task.lookup_candidates()
-    return task
 
 
 @pipeline.stage
@@ -990,6 +989,7 @@ def user_query(session, task):
             user_query(session)
         ])
         task = pipeline.multiple(ipl.pull())
+
     return task
 
 
@@ -1013,7 +1013,7 @@ def resolve_duplicates(session):
             recent.add(ident)
 
 
-@pipeline.stage
+@pipeline.mutator_stage
 def import_asis(session, task):
     """Select the `action.ASIS` choice for all tasks.
 
@@ -1021,23 +1021,22 @@ def import_asis(session, task):
     when the importer is run without autotagging.
     """
     if task.skip:
-        return task
+        return
 
     log.info(displayable_path(task.paths))
 
     # Behave as if ASIS were selected.
     task.set_null_candidates()
     task.set_choice(action.ASIS)
-    return task
 
 
-@pipeline.stage
+@pipeline.mutator_stage
 def apply_choices(session, task):
     """A coroutine for applying changes to albums and singletons during
     the autotag process.
     """
     if task.skip:
-        return task
+        return
 
     # Change metadata.
     if task.apply:
@@ -1049,32 +1048,31 @@ def apply_choices(session, task):
         task.infer_album_fields()
 
     task.add(session.lib)
-    return task
 
 
-@pipeline.stage
+@pipeline.mutator_stage
 def plugin_stage(session, func, task):
     """A coroutine (pipeline stage) that calls the given function with
     each non-skipped import task. These stages occur between applying
     metadata changes and moving/copying/writing files.
     """
     if task.skip:
-        return task
+        return
+
     func(session, task)
 
     # Stage may modify DB, so re-load cached item data.
     for item in task.imported_items():
         item.load()
-    return task
 
 
-@pipeline.stage
+@pipeline.mutator_stage
 def manipulate_files(session, task):
     """A coroutine (pipeline stage) that performs necessary file
     manipulations *after* items have been added to the library.
     """
     if task.skip:
-        return task
+        return
 
     if task.remove_duplicates:
         task.do_remove_duplicates(session.lib)
@@ -1085,7 +1083,6 @@ def manipulate_files(session, task):
         write=config['import']['write'],
         session=session,
     )
-    return task
 
 
 # TODO Get rid of this.
diff --git a/beets/util/pipeline.py b/beets/util/pipeline.py
index 1591122e6..d267789c8 100644
--- a/beets/util/pipeline.py
+++ b/beets/util/pipeline.py
@@ -159,6 +159,28 @@ def stage(func):
     return coro
 
 
+def mutator_stage(func):
+    """Decorate a function that manipulates items in a coroutine to
+    become a simple stage.
+
+    >>> @mutator_stage
+    ... def setkey(key, item):
+    ...     item[key] = True
+    >>> pipe = Pipeline([
+    ...     iter([{'x': False}, {'a': False}]),
+    ...     setkey('x'),
+    ... ])
+    >>> list(pipe.pull())
+    [{'x': True}, {'a': False, 'x': True}]
+    """
+
+    def coro(*args):
+        task = None
+        while True:
+            task = yield task
+            func(*(args + (task,)))
+    return coro
+
 
 def _allmsgs(obj):
     """Returns a list of all the messages encapsulated in obj. If obj
diff --git a/test/test_pipeline.py b/test/test_pipeline.py
index 62a087eb2..0c4de6836 100644
--- a/test/test_pipeline.py
+++ b/test/test_pipeline.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class MultiMessageTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
 class StageDecoratorTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
-    def test_decorator(self):
+    def test_stage_decorator(self):
         @pipeline.stage
         def add(n, i):
             return i + n
@@ -221,6 +221,18 @@ class StageDecoratorTest(unittest.TestCase):
         ])
         self.assertEqual(list(pl.pull()), [3, 4, 5])
 
+    def test_mutator_stage_decorator(self):
+        @pipeline.mutator_stage
+        def setkey(key, item):
+            item[key] = True
+
+        pl = pipeline.Pipeline([
+            iter([{'x': False}, {'a': False}]),
+            setkey('x'),
+        ])
+        self.assertEqual(list(pl.pull()),
+                         [{'x': True}, {'a': False, 'x': True}])
+
 
 def suite():
     return unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromName(__name__)