diff --git a/beets/config_default.yaml b/beets/config_default.yaml
index 58136d56f..689ab44b1 100644
--- a/beets/config_default.yaml
+++ b/beets/config_default.yaml
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ replace:
     '\s+$': ''
     '^\s+': ''
 path_sep_replace: _
+asciify_paths: false
 art_filename: cover
 max_filename_length: 0
 
diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index 95a02c3b8..8496a844e 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -571,8 +571,13 @@ class Item(LibModel):
             subpath = unicodedata.normalize('NFD', subpath)
         else:
             subpath = unicodedata.normalize('NFC', subpath)
+
+        if beets.config['asciify_paths']:
+            subpath = unidecode(subpath)
+
         # Truncate components and remove forbidden characters.
         subpath = util.sanitize_path(subpath, self._db.replacements)
+
         # Encode for the filesystem.
         if not fragment:
             subpath = bytestring_path(subpath)
@@ -830,6 +835,8 @@ class Album(LibModel):
 
         filename_tmpl = Template(beets.config['art_filename'].get(unicode))
         subpath = self.evaluate_template(filename_tmpl, True)
+        if beets.config['asciify_paths']:
+            subpath = unidecode(subpath)
         subpath = util.sanitize_path(subpath,
                                      replacements=self._db.replacements)
         subpath = bytestring_path(subpath)
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 74ce6195b..bfc6da537 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ Little improvements and fixes:
   fingerprinting on import. Thanks to ddettrittus.
 * :doc:`/plugins/convert`: Add ``--format`` option to select the
   transoding command from the command-line.
+* Add :ref:`asciify-paths` configuration option to replace non-ASCII
+  characters in paths.
+
 
 
 1.3.6 (May 10, 2014)
diff --git a/docs/reference/config.rst b/docs/reference/config.rst
index bf9fb6daa..b703d9c70 100644
--- a/docs/reference/config.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/config.rst
@@ -119,6 +119,22 @@ compatibility with Windows-influenced network filesystems like Samba).
 Trailing dots and trailing whitespace, which can cause problems on Windows
 clients, are also removed.
 
+.. _asciify-paths:
+
+asciify_paths
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Works like a specialized ``replace`` configuration.  If set to ``yes``,
+all non-ASCII characters in paths created by beets are converted to
+their ASCII equivalents.  For example, if your path template for
+singletons is ``singletons/$title`` and the title of a track is "Café",
+then the track will be saved as ``singletons/Cafe.mp3``.  The changes
+take place before applying the ``replace`` configuration. Uses the
+mapping provided by the `unidecode module`_.  Defaults to ``no``.
+
+.. _unidecode module: http://pypi.python.org/pypi/Unidecode
+
+
 .. _art-filename:
 
 art_filename
diff --git a/docs/reference/pathformat.rst b/docs/reference/pathformat.rst
index 005d4ed63..8efe54cd2 100644
--- a/docs/reference/pathformat.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/pathformat.rst
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ These functions are built in to beets:
   nothing if ``falsetext`` is left off).
 * ``%asciify{text}``: Convert non-ASCII characters to their ASCII equivalents.
   For example, "café" becomes "cafe". Uses the mapping provided by the
-  `unidecode module`_.
+  `unidecode module`_. See the :ref:`asciify-paths` configuration
+  option.
 * ``%aunique{identifiers,disambiguators}``: Provides a unique string to
   disambiguate similar albums in the database. See :ref:`aunique`, below.
 * ``%time{date_time,format}``: Return the date and time in any format accepted
diff --git a/test/test_library.py b/test/test_library.py
index c96d01c27..aac58b9e9 100644
--- a/test/test_library.py
+++ b/test/test_library.py
@@ -136,6 +136,10 @@ class DestinationTest(_common.TestCase):
         super(DestinationTest, self).tearDown()
         self.lib._connection().close()
 
+        # Reset config if it was changed in test cases
+        config.clear()
+        config.read(user=False, defaults=True)
+
     def test_directory_works_with_trailing_slash(self):
         self.lib.directory = 'one/'
         self.lib.path_formats = [('default', 'two')]
@@ -447,6 +451,14 @@ class DestinationTest(_common.TestCase):
         dest = self.i.destination(platform='linux2', fragment=True)
         self.assertEqual(dest, u'foo.caf\xe9')
 
+    def test_asciify_and_replace(self):
+        config['asciify_paths'] = True
+        self.lib.replacements = [(re.compile(u'"'), u'q')]
+        self.lib.directory = 'lib'
+        self.lib.path_formats = [('default', '$title')]
+        self.i.title = u'\u201c\u00f6\u2014\u00cf\u201d'
+        self.assertEqual(self.i.destination(), np('lib/qo--Iq'))
+
 
 class ItemFormattedMappingTest(_common.LibTestCase):
     def test_formatted_item_value(self):