diff --git a/beetsplug/albumtypes.py b/beetsplug/albumtypes.py
index 47f8dc64e..b54e802e6 100644
--- a/beetsplug/albumtypes.py
+++ b/beetsplug/albumtypes.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class AlbumTypesPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             bracket_r = ''
 
         res = ''
-        albumtypes = item.albumtypes.split('; ')
+        albumtypes = item.albumtypes
         is_va = item.mb_albumartistid == VARIOUS_ARTISTS_ID
         for type in types:
             if type[0] in albumtypes and type[1]:
diff --git a/test/test_albumtypes.py b/test/test_albumtypes.py
index 91808553d..3d329dd7b 100644
--- a/test/test_albumtypes.py
+++ b/test/test_albumtypes.py
@@ -106,6 +106,6 @@ class AlbumTypesPluginTest(unittest.TestCase, TestHelper):
 
     def _create_album(self, album_types: [str], artist_id: str = 0):
         return self.add_album(
-            albumtypes='; '.join(album_types),
+            albumtypes=album_types,
             mb_albumartistid=artist_id
         )