diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index 9448d234c..1a72508d2 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -821,11 +821,12 @@ class Library(BaseLibrary):
         for the item's album. `image` is the path of the image that
         will be moved there (used for its extension).
         """
-        item_dir = os.path.dirname(self.destination(item))
+        item_dir = os.path.dirname(item.path)
         _, ext = os.path.splitext(image)
         dest = os.path.join(item_dir, self.art_filename + ext)
         return dest
     
+    
     # Main interface.
 
     def add(self, item, copy=False):
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 2c434c6e0..ae29f4ebe 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -18,12 +18,15 @@ interface.
 
 import os
 import logging
+import shutil
 
 from beets import ui
 from beets.ui import print_
 from beets import autotag
 from beets import library
 from beets.mediafile import UnreadableFileError, FileTypeError
+import beets.autotag.art
+autotag.art = beets.autotag.art
 
 # Global logger.
 log = logging.getLogger('beets')
@@ -147,12 +150,12 @@ def tag_log(logfile, status, items):
         path = os.path.commonprefix([item.path for item in items])
         print >>logfile, status, os.path.dirname(path)
 
-def tag_album(items, lib, copy=True, write=True, logfile=None):
+def tag_album(items, lib, copy=True, write=True, logfile=None, art=False):
     """Import items into lib, tagging them as an album. If copy, then
     items are copied into the destination directory. If write, then
     new metadata is written back to the files' tags. If logfile is
     provided, then a log message will be added there if the album is
-    untaggable.
+    untaggable. If art, then try to download album art for the album.
     """
     # Try to get candidate metadata.
     search_artist, search_album = None, None
@@ -228,14 +231,25 @@ def tag_album(items, lib, copy=True, write=True, logfile=None):
     # locking while we do the copying and tag updates.
     for item in items:
         lib.add(item)
+    
+    # Get album art.
+    if art:
+        artpath = autotag.art.art_for_album(info)
+        if artpath:
+            artdest = lib.art_path(items[0], artpath)
+            #fixme -- move if possible?
+            shutil.copy(artpath, artdest)
+            lib.albuminfo(items[0]).artpath = artdest
 
-def import_files(lib, paths, copy=True, write=True, autot=True, logpath=None):
+def import_files(lib, paths, copy=True, write=True, autot=True,
+                 logpath=None, art=False):
     """Import the files in the given list of paths, tagging each leaf
     directory as an album. If copy, then the files are copied into
     the library folder. If write, then new metadata is written to the
     files themselves. If not autot, then just import the files
     without attempting to tag. If logpath is provided, then untaggable
-    albums will be logged there.
+    albums will be logged there. If art, then try to download album art
+    for each album.
     """
     if logpath:
         logfile = open(logpath, 'w')
@@ -257,7 +271,7 @@ def import_files(lib, paths, copy=True, write=True, autot=True, logpath=None):
                 first = False
 
                 # Infer tags.
-                tag_album(album, lib, copy, write, logfile)
+                tag_album(album, lib, copy, write, logfile, art)
                 
                 # Write the database after each album.
                 lib.save()
@@ -316,6 +330,8 @@ import_cmd.parser.add_option('-A', '--noautotag', action='store_false',
     help="don't infer tags for imported files (opposite of -a)")
 import_cmd.parser.add_option('-l', '--log', dest='logpath',
     help='file to log untaggable albums for later review')
+import_cmd.parser.add_option('-r', '--art', action='store_true',
+    default=None, help="try to download album art")
 def import_func(lib, config, opts, args):
     copy  = opts.copy  if opts.copy  is not None else \
         ui.config_val(config, 'beets', 'import_copy',
@@ -324,7 +340,7 @@ def import_func(lib, config, opts, args):
         ui.config_val(config, 'beets', 'import_write',
             DEFAULT_IMPORT_WRITE, bool)
     autot = opts.autotag if opts.autotag is not None else DEFAULT_IMPORT_AUTOT
-    import_files(lib, args, copy, write, autot, opts.logpath)
+    import_files(lib, args, copy, write, autot, opts.logpath, opts.art)
 import_cmd.func = import_func
 default_commands.append(import_cmd)
 
diff --git a/test/test_db.py b/test/test_db.py
index d353ba425..7f2d72ae7 100644
--- a/test/test_db.py
+++ b/test/test_db.py
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ class ArtDestinationTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.lib = beets.library.Library(':memory:')
         self.i = item()
+        self.i.path = '/some/music/file.mp3'
         self.lib.art_filename = 'artimage'
         
     def test_art_filename_respects_setting(self):
@@ -259,7 +260,7 @@ class ArtDestinationTest(unittest.TestCase):
         
     def test_art_path_in_item_dir(self):
         art = self.lib.art_path(self.i, 'something.jpg')
-        track = self.lib.destination(self.i)
+        track = self.i.path
         self.assertEqual(os.path.dirname(art), os.path.dirname(track))
 
 class MigrationTest(unittest.TestCase):