diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index 3a6829176..fbaf6262e 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -470,6 +470,21 @@ class Item(LibModel):
             log.error(exc)
             return False
 
+    def try_sync(self, write=None):
+        """Synchronizes the current state with the database and the
+        media file tags.
+
+        If `write` is `None` or `True` the method tries to write the
+        tags to `self.path`.  If `write` is `False` it does not write
+        tags. Otherwise it interprets `write` as a path and tries to
+        write the tags to that file.
+        """
+        if write is True:
+            write = None
+        if write is not False:
+            self.try_write(path=write)
+        self.store()
+
     # Files themselves.
 
     def move_file(self, dest, copy=False):
@@ -882,6 +897,18 @@ class Album(LibModel):
                         item[key] = value
                     item.store()
 
+    def try_sync(self, write=True):
+        """Synchronizes the current state with the database, propagates
+        it to the items and synchronizes them with the database and
+        their files.
+
+        The `write` parameter is a boolean indicating whether to write
+        tags to the item files.
+        """
+        self.store()
+        for item in self.items():
+            item.try_sync(bool(write))
+
 
 # Query construction helper.
 
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index adf0070a0..e854fd4e4 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ from __future__ import print_function
 import logging
 import os
 import time
-import itertools
 import codecs
 import platform
 import re
@@ -1298,7 +1297,7 @@ def modify_items(lib, mods, dels, query, write, move, album, confirm):
         if not ui.input_yn('Really modify%s (Y/n)?' % extra):
             return
 
-    # Apply changes to database.
+    # Apply changes to database and files
     with lib.transaction():
         for obj in changed:
             if move:
@@ -1307,16 +1306,7 @@ def modify_items(lib, mods, dels, query, write, move, album, confirm):
                     log.debug('moving object %s' % cur_path)
                     obj.move()
 
-            obj.store()
-
-    # Apply tags if requested.
-    if write:
-        if album:
-            changed_items = itertools.chain(*(a.items() for a in changed))
-        else:
-            changed_items = changed
-        for item in changed_items:
-            item.try_write()
+            obj.try_sync(write)
 
 
 def modify_parse_args(args):
@@ -1457,7 +1447,7 @@ def write_items(lib, query, pretend, force):
         changed = ui.show_model_changes(item, clean_item,
                                         library.Item._media_fields, force)
         if (changed or force) and not pretend:
-            item.try_write()
+            item.try_sync()
 
 
 def write_func(lib, opts, args):
diff --git a/test/test_ui.py b/test/test_ui.py
index 76abc20bf..4ef5a9fcf 100644
--- a/test/test_ui.py
+++ b/test/test_ui.py
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ class ModifyTest(unittest.TestCase, TestHelper):
 
     def setUp(self):
         self.setup_beets()
-        self.add_album_fixture()
+        self.album = self.add_album_fixture()
+        [self.item] = self.album.items()
 
     def tearDown(self):
         self.teardown_beets()
@@ -183,6 +184,22 @@ class ModifyTest(unittest.TestCase, TestHelper):
         item = self.lib.items().get()
         self.assertNotIn('newTitle', item.path)
 
+    def test_update_mtime(self):
+        item = self.item
+        old_mtime = item.mtime
+
+        self.modify("title=newTitle")
+        item.load()
+        self.assertNotEqual(old_mtime, item.mtime)
+        self.assertEqual(item.current_mtime(), item.mtime)
+
+    def test_reset_mtime_with_no_write(self):
+        item = self.item
+
+        self.modify("--nowrite", "title=newTitle")
+        item.load()
+        self.assertEqual(0, item.mtime)
+
     # Album Tests
 
     def test_modify_album(self):
@@ -275,6 +292,30 @@ class ModifyTest(unittest.TestCase, TestHelper):
         self.assertEqual(mods, {"title": "newTitle"})
 
 
+class WriteTest(unittest.TestCase, TestHelper):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.setup_beets()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        self.teardown_beets()
+
+    def write_cmd(self, *args):
+        ui._raw_main(['write'] + list(args), self.lib)
+
+    def test_update_mtime(self):
+        item = self.add_item_fixture()
+        item['title'] = 'a new title'
+        item.store()
+
+        item = self.lib.items().get()
+        self.assertEqual(item.mtime, 0)
+
+        self.write_cmd()
+        item = self.lib.items().get()
+        self.assertEqual(item.mtime, item.current_mtime())
+
+
 class MoveTest(_common.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         super(MoveTest, self).setUp()