diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 74e7f7d45..3117e64b4 100755
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -1232,7 +1232,7 @@ def update_items(lib, query, album, move, pretend, fields,
         affected_albums = set()
         for item in items:
             # Item deleted?
-            if not os.path.exists(syspath(item.path)):
+            if not item.path or not os.path.exists(syspath(item.path)):
                 ui.print_(format(item))
                 ui.print_(ui.colorize('text_error', '  deleted'))
                 if not pretend:
diff --git a/beets/util/__init__.py b/beets/util/__init__.py
index 000cc5ac1..11c829ec3 100644
--- a/beets/util/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/util/__init__.py
@@ -452,12 +452,12 @@ def samefile(p1: bytes, p2: bytes) -> bool:
     return shutil._samefile(syspath(p1), syspath(p2))
 
 
-def remove(path: bytes, soft: bool = True):
+def remove(path: Optional[bytes], soft: bool = True):
     """Remove the file. If `soft`, then no error will be raised if the
     file does not exist.
     """
     path = syspath(path)
-    if soft and not os.path.exists(path):
+    if not path or (soft and not os.path.exists(path)):
         return
     try:
         os.remove(path)
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index eb80cce74..330e74f22 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -233,6 +233,8 @@ Bug fixes:
   already. A new option ``--noinherit/-I`` to :ref:`modify <modify-cmd>`
   allows changing this behaviour.
   :bug:`4822`
+* Fix bug where an interrupted import process poisons the database, causing
+  a null path that can't be removed.
 
 For packagers: