diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index ee9184bb0..3119e1bfa 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -217,7 +217,9 @@ class LibModel(dbcore.Model):
 
 
 class FormattedItemMapping(dbcore.db.FormattedMapping):
-    """Add lookup for album level fields.
+    """Add lookup for album-level fields.
+
+    Album-level fields take precedence if `for_path` is true.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, item, for_path=False):
@@ -234,10 +236,12 @@ class FormattedItemMapping(dbcore.db.FormattedMapping):
         """Get the value for a key, either from the album or the item.
         Raise a KeyError for invalid keys.
         """
-        if key in self.album_keys:
+        if self.for_path and key in self.album_keys:
             return self._get_formatted(self.album, key)
         elif key in self.model_keys:
             return self._get_formatted(self.model, key)
+        elif key in self.album_keys:
+            return self._get_formatted(self.album, key)
         else:
             raise KeyError(key)
 
@@ -263,7 +267,6 @@ class FormattedItemMapping(dbcore.db.FormattedMapping):
         return len(self.all_keys)
 
 
-
 class Item(LibModel):
     _table = 'items'
     _flex_table = 'item_attributes'
diff --git a/test/test_library.py b/test/test_library.py
index 7a29ea5db..458863190 100644
--- a/test/test_library.py
+++ b/test/test_library.py
@@ -478,7 +478,19 @@ class ItemFormattedMappingTest(_common.LibTestCase):
         formatted = self.i.formatted()
         self.assertEqual(formatted.get('other_field', 'default'), 'default')
 
-    def test_album_field_overrides_item_field(self):
+    def test_item_precedence(self):
+        album = self.lib.add_album([self.i])
+        album['artist'] = 'foo'
+        album.store()
+        self.assertNotEqual('foo', self.i.formatted().get('artist'))
+
+    def test_album_flex_field(self):
+        album = self.lib.add_album([self.i])
+        album['flex'] = 'foo'
+        album.store()
+        self.assertEqual('foo', self.i.formatted().get('flex'))
+
+    def test_album_field_overrides_item_field_for_path(self):
         # Make the album inconsistent with the item.
         album = self.lib.add_album([self.i])
         album.album = 'foo'
@@ -487,7 +499,7 @@ class ItemFormattedMappingTest(_common.LibTestCase):
         self.i.store()
 
         # Ensure the album takes precedence.
-        formatted = self.i.formatted()
+        formatted = self.i.formatted(for_path=True)
         self.assertEqual(formatted['album'], 'foo')
 
     def test_artist_falls_back_to_albumartist(self):