diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index e0a0aa840..9e8332931 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ from datetime import datetime
 # - Is the field writable?
 # - Does the field reflect an attribute of a MediaFile?
 ITEM_FIELDS = [
-    ('id',          int, False, False),
-    ('path',        str, False, False),
-    ('album_id',    int, False, False),
+    ('id',          int,   False, False),
+    ('path',        bytes, False, False),
+    ('album_id',    int,   False, False),
 
     ('title',                unicode, True, True),
     ('artist',               unicode, True, True),
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ ITEM_KEYS          = [f[0] for f in ITEM_FIELDS]
 # identically-named field in the items table.
 ALBUM_FIELDS = [
     ('id',      int,      False),
-    ('artpath', str,      False),
+    ('artpath', bytes,    False),
     ('added',   datetime, True),
 
     ('albumartist',        unicode, True),
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ SQLITE_TYPES = {
     int:      'INT',
     float:    'REAL',
     datetime: 'FLOAT',
-    str:      'BLOB',
+    bytes:    'BLOB',
     unicode:  'TEXT',
     bool:     'INT',
 }
diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index 2983358fa..6789045f1 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -381,8 +381,8 @@ def _colordiff(a, b, highlight='red'):
         else:
             return colorize(highlight, a), colorize(highlight, b)
 
-    if not isinstance(a, unicode) or not isinstance(b, unicode):
-        # This is probably a path
+    if isinstance(a, bytes) or isinstance(b, bytes):
+        # A path field.
         a = util.displayable_path(a)
         b = util.displayable_path(b)
 
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 39f353421..78306205b 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -1089,6 +1089,8 @@ def _convert_type(key, value, album=False):
             return time.mktime(time.strptime(value, fmt))
         except ValueError:
             raise ui.UserError(u'{0} must have format {1}'.format(key, fmt))
+    elif typ is bytes:  # A path.
+        return util.bytestring_path(value)
     else:
         try:
             return typ(value)
@@ -1107,9 +1109,6 @@ def modify_items(lib, mods, query, write, move, album, confirm):
         key, value = mod.split('=', 1)
         if key not in allowed_keys:
             raise ui.UserError('"%s" is not a valid field' % key)
-
-        if key == 'artpath':
-            value = util.bytestring_path(value)
         fsets[key] = _convert_type(key, value, album)
 
     # Get the items to modify.
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 1306e814e..8b17e247b 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ Changelog
 * Album art filenames now respect the :ref:`replace` configuration.
 * Friendly error messages are now printed when trying to read or write files
   that go missing.
+* The :ref:`modify-cmd` command can now change albums' album art paths (i.e.,
+  ``beet modify artpath=...`` works).
 * Various UI enhancements to the importer due to Tai Lee:
 
   * More consistent format and colorization of album and track metadata.