diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index 658a997e5..2983358fa 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -381,6 +381,11 @@ 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
+        a = util.displayable_path(a)
+        b = util.displayable_path(b)
+
     a_out = []
     b_out = []
 
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index f5f12f6b4..39f353421 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -1107,6 +1107,9 @@ 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.