diff --git a/beets/importer.py b/beets/importer.py
index 95163b6fd..85d6e0824 100644
--- a/beets/importer.py
+++ b/beets/importer.py
@@ -718,6 +718,7 @@ class ImportTask(BaseImportTask):
             if replaced_album:
                 self.album.added = replaced_album.added
                 self.album.update(replaced_album._values_flex)
+                self.album.artpath = replaced_album.artpath
                 self.album.store()
                 log.debug(
                     u'Reimported album: added {0}, flexible '
diff --git a/beetsplug/fetchart.py b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
index d53eaf03f..6847d8828 100644
--- a/beetsplug/fetchart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
@@ -434,6 +434,9 @@ class FetchArtPlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin, RequestMixin):
     def fetch_art(self, session, task):
         """Find art for the album being imported."""
         if task.is_album:  # Only fetch art for full albums.
+            if task.album.artpath and os.path.isfile(task.album.artpath):
+                # Album already has art (probably a re-import); skip it.
+                return
             if task.choice_flag == importer.action.ASIS:
                 # For as-is imports, don't search Web sources for art.
                 local = True
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 7c5b91217..666a76641 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ Fixes:
   when there were not. :bug:`1652`
 * :doc:`plugins/lastgenre`: Clean up the reggae related genres somewhat.
   Thanks to :user:`Freso`. :bug:`1661`
+* The importer now correctly moves album art files when re-importing.
+  :bug:`314`
+* :doc:`/plugins/fetchart`: In auto mode, skips albums that already have
+  art attached to them so as not to interfere with re-imports. :bug:`314`
 * :doc:`plugins/fetchart`: The plugin now only resizes album art if necessary,
   rather than always by default. :bug:`1264`
 * :doc:`plugins/fetchart`: Fix a bug where a database reference to a
diff --git a/test/test_importer.py b/test/test_importer.py
index 7b07ea331..675ac7796 100644
--- a/test/test_importer.py
+++ b/test/test_importer.py
@@ -1592,6 +1592,21 @@ class ReimportTest(unittest.TestCase, ImportHelper):
         self.importer.run()
         self.assertEqual(self._item().added, 4747.0)
 
+    def test_reimported_item_preserves_art(self):
+        self._setup_session()
+        art_source = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, 'abbey.jpg')
+        replaced_album = self._album()
+        replaced_album.set_art(art_source)
+        replaced_album.store()
+        old_artpath = replaced_album.artpath
+        self.importer.run()
+        new_album = self._album()
+        new_artpath = new_album.art_destination(art_source)
+        self.assertEqual(new_album.artpath, new_artpath)
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(new_artpath))
+        if new_artpath != old_artpath:
+            self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(old_artpath))
+
 
 class ImportPretendTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
     """ Test the pretend commandline option