diff --git a/beetsplug/lyrics.py b/beetsplug/lyrics.py
index 462bf55c0..4aeae07c8 100644
--- a/beetsplug/lyrics.py
+++ b/beetsplug/lyrics.py
@@ -421,6 +421,7 @@ class LyricsPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             'google_API_key': None,
             'google_engine_ID': u'009217259823014548361:lndtuqkycfu',
             'fallback': None,
+            'force': False,
         })
 
         self.backends = [fetch_lyricswiki, fetch_lyricscom]
@@ -456,7 +457,7 @@ class LyricsPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         if self.config['auto']:
             for item in task.imported_items():
                 self.fetch_item_lyrics(session.lib, logging.DEBUG, item,
-                                       False, False)
+                                       False, self.config['force'])
 
     def fetch_item_lyrics(self, lib, loglevel, item, write, force):
         """Fetch and store lyrics for a single item. If ``write``, then the
diff --git a/docs/plugins/lyrics.rst b/docs/plugins/lyrics.rst
index 46b40e17f..ea04d9870 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/lyrics.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/lyrics.rst
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ configuration file. The available options are:
 - **fallback**: By default, the file will be left unchanged when no lyrics are
   found. Use the empty string ``''`` to reset the lyrics in such a case.
   Default: None.
+- **force**: By default, beets won't fetch lyrics if the files already have
+  ones. To instead always fetch lyrics, set the ``force`` option to ``yes``.
+  Default: ``no``.
 - **google_API_key**: Your Google API key (to enable the Google Custom Search
   backend).
   Default: None.