diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index 945594307..fe4d9e0b5 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -414,17 +414,23 @@ class Item(LibModel):
 
         self.path = read_path
 
-    def write(self):
-        """Write the item's metadata to the associated file.
+    def write(self, path=None):
+        """Write the item's metadata to a media file.
+
+        ``path`` defaults to the item's path property.
 
         Can raise either a `ReadError` or a `WriteError`.
         """
+        if path is None:
+            path = self.path
+        else:
+            path = normpath(path)
         try:
-            f = MediaFile(syspath(self.path))
+            f = MediaFile(syspath(path))
         except (OSError, IOError) as exc:
             raise ReadError(self.path, exc)
 
-        plugins.send('write', item=self)
+        plugins.send('write', item=self, path=path)
 
         for key in ITEM_KEYS_WRITABLE:
             setattr(f, key, self[key])
diff --git a/beets/plugins.py b/beets/plugins.py
index 35fc314d1..b6fb157ca 100755
--- a/beets/plugins.py
+++ b/beets/plugins.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import logging
 import traceback
 from collections import defaultdict
+import inspect
 
 import beets
 
@@ -339,4 +340,8 @@ def send(event, **arguments):
     Returns a list of return values from the handlers.
     """
     log.debug('Sending event: %s' % event)
-    return [handler(**arguments) for handler in event_handlers()[event]]
+    for handler in event_handlers()[event]:
+        # Don't break legacy plugins if we want to pass more arguments
+        argspec = inspect.getargspec(handler).args
+        args = dict((k, v) for k, v in arguments.items() if k in argspec)
+        handler(**args)
diff --git a/beetsplug/convert.py b/beetsplug/convert.py
index c9645ae5a..031b4d839 100644
--- a/beetsplug/convert.py
+++ b/beetsplug/convert.py
@@ -174,13 +174,12 @@ def convert_item(dest_dir, keep_new, path_formats):
                 encode(item.path, dest)
 
         # Write tags from the database to the converted file.
-        if not keep_new:
-            item.path = dest
-        item.write()
+        item.write(path=dest)
 
-        # If we're keeping the transcoded file, read it again (after
-        # writing) to get new bitrate, duration, etc.
         if keep_new:
+            # If we're keeping the transcoded file, read it again (after
+            # writing) to get new bitrate, duration, etc.
+            item.path = dest
             item.read()
             item.store()  # Store new path and audio data.
 
diff --git a/test/test_library.py b/test/test_library.py
index 3fa3d1173..41585d50b 100644
--- a/test/test_library.py
+++ b/test/test_library.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import beets.library
 from beets import util
 from beets import plugins
 from beets import config
+from beets.mediafile import MediaFile
 
 TEMP_LIB = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, 'test_copy.blb')
 
@@ -958,6 +959,20 @@ class WriteTest(_common.LibTestCase):
         self.i.path = path
         self.assertRaises(beets.library.WriteError, self.i.write)
 
+    def test_write_with_custom_path(self):
+        custom_path = os.path.join(self.temp_dir, 'file.mp3')
+        self.i.path = os.path.join(self.temp_dir, 'item_file.mp3')
+        shutil.copy(os.path.join(_common.RSRC, 'empty.mp3'), custom_path)
+        shutil.copy(os.path.join(_common.RSRC, 'empty.mp3'), self.i.path)
+
+        self.i['artist'] = 'new artist'
+        self.assertNotEqual(MediaFile(custom_path).artist, 'new artist')
+        self.assertNotEqual(MediaFile(self.i.path).artist, 'new artist')
+
+        self.i.write(custom_path)
+        self.assertEqual(MediaFile(custom_path).artist, 'new artist')
+        self.assertNotEqual(MediaFile(self.i.path).artist, 'new artist')
+
 
 def suite():
     return unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromName(__name__)