diff --git a/beets/importer.py b/beets/importer.py
index 556e05367..92d910acc 100644
--- a/beets/importer.py
+++ b/beets/importer.py
@@ -563,8 +563,7 @@ def read_tasks(session):
 
     for toppath in session.paths:
         # Check whether the path is to a file.
-        if config['import']['singletons'] and \
-                not os.path.isdir(syspath(toppath)):
+        if not os.path.isdir(syspath(toppath)):
             try:
                 item = library.Item.from_path(toppath)
             except mediafile.UnreadableFileError:
@@ -572,7 +571,10 @@ def read_tasks(session):
                     util.displayable_path(toppath)
                 ))
                 continue
-            yield ImportTask.item_task(item)
+            if config['import']['singletons']:
+                yield ImportTask.item_task(item)
+            else:
+                yield ImportTask(toppath, [toppath], [item])
             continue
 
         # A flat album import merges all items into one album.
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index d45192be1..c466eb56a 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -746,12 +746,8 @@ def import_files(lib, paths, query):
     """
     # Check the user-specified directories.
     for path in paths:
-        fullpath = syspath(normpath(path))
-        if not config['import']['singletons'] and not os.path.isdir(fullpath):
-            raise ui.UserError(u'not a directory: {0}'.format(
-                displayable_path(path)))
-        elif config['import']['singletons'] and not os.path.exists(fullpath):
-            raise ui.UserError(u'no such file: {0}'.format(
+        if not os.path.exists(syspath(normpath(path))):
+            raise ui.UserError(u'no such file or directory: {0}'.format(
                 displayable_path(path)))
 
     # Check parameter consistency.
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index aee77266d..3c5efd7d2 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ New stuff:
 * The performance of the autotagger's matching mechanism is vastly improved.
   This should be noticeable when matching against very large releases such as
   box sets.
+* The :ref:`import-cmd` command can now accept individual files as arguments
+  even in non-singleton mode. Files are imported as one-track albums.
 
 Fixes:
 
diff --git a/test/test_importer.py b/test/test_importer.py
index 691fde4b9..06992c7d0 100644
--- a/test/test_importer.py
+++ b/test/test_importer.py
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ class ImportSingletonTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
     """Test ``APPLY`` and ``ASIS`` choices for an import session with singletons
     config set to True.
     """
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(ImportSingletonTest, self).setUp()
         self._setup_library()
@@ -391,6 +392,26 @@ class ImportSingletonTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
         self.importer.run()
         self.assertEqual(len(self.lib.items()), 1)
 
+    def test_import_single_files(self):
+        resource_path = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, u'empty.mp3')
+        single_path = os.path.join(self.import_dir, u'track_2.mp3')
+
+        shutil.copy(resource_path, single_path)
+        import_files = [
+            os.path.join(self.import_dir, u'the_album'),
+            single_path
+        ]
+        self._setup_import_session(singletons = False)
+        self.importer.paths = import_files
+
+        self.importer.add_choice(importer.action.ASIS)
+        self.importer.add_choice(importer.action.ASIS)
+        self.importer.run()
+
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.lib.items()), 2)
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.lib.albums()), 2)
+
+
 class ImportTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
     """Test APPLY, ASIS and SKIP choices.
     """