diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index bd9590617..8f0fa0c5e 100755
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -1196,7 +1196,7 @@ default_commands.append(list_cmd)
 
 # update: Update library contents according to on-disk tags.
 
-def update_items(lib, query, album, move, pretend, fields, exclude_fields):
+def update_items(lib, query, album, move, pretend, fields, exclude_fields=None):
     """For all the items matched by the query, update the library to
     reflect the item's embedded tags.
     :param fields: The fields to be stored. If not specified, all fields will
diff --git a/test/test_ui.py b/test/test_ui.py
index 9e0a67a0e..3b4ce7e3c 100644
--- a/test/test_ui.py
+++ b/test/test_ui.py
@@ -579,13 +579,13 @@ class UpdateTest(_common.TestCase):
         util.remove(artfile)
 
     def _update(self, query=(), album=False, move=False, reset_mtime=True,
-                fields=None):
+                fields=None, excluded_fields=None):
         self.io.addinput('y')
         if reset_mtime:
             self.i.mtime = 0
             self.i.store()
         commands.update_items(self.lib, query, album, move, False,
-                              fields=fields)
+                              fields=fields, excluded_fields=excluded_fields)
 
     def test_delete_removes_item(self):
         self.assertTrue(list(self.lib.items()))
@@ -729,6 +729,14 @@ class UpdateTest(_common.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(album.albumtype,  correct_albumtype)
         self.assertEqual(album.albumtypes, correct_albumtypes)
 
+    def test_modified_metadata_excluded(self):
+        mf = MediaFile(syspath(self.i.path))
+        mf.lyrics = 'new lyrics'
+        mf.save()
+        self._update(excluded_fields=['lyrics'])
+        item = self.lib.items().get()
+        self.assertNotEqual(item.lyrics, 'new lyrics')
+
 
 class PrintTest(_common.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):