diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index cbc1d6018..2bf291c44 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ class Library(BaseLibrary):
             self.path = bytestring_path(normpath(path))
         self.directory = bytestring_path(normpath(directory))
         self.path_formats = path_formats
-        self.art_filename = bytestring_path(art_filename)
+        self.art_filename = art_filename
         self.replacements = replacements
 
         self._memotable = {}  # Used for template substitution performance.
@@ -1562,11 +1562,19 @@ class Album(BaseAlbum):
         items, so the album must contain at least one item or
         item_dir must be provided.
         """
+
         image = bytestring_path(image)
         item_dir = item_dir or self.item_dir()
+
+        if not isinstance(self._library.art_filename,Template):
+            self._library.art_filename = Template(self._library.art_filename)
+
+        sanitized_art_filename = util.sanitize_for_path(self.evaluate_template(self._library.art_filename),os.path)
         _, ext = os.path.splitext(image)
-        dest = os.path.join(item_dir, self._library.art_filename + ext)
-        return dest
+
+        dest = os.path.join(item_dir, util.sanitize_path(sanitized_art_filename) + ext)
+
+        return bytestring_path(dest)
 
     def set_art(self, path, copy=True):
         """Sets the album's cover art to the image at the given path.
diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index a1dc8bd04..1dbe7056e 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -516,6 +516,20 @@ def _get_path_formats(config):
 
     return path_formats
 
+def _get_art_filename(config):
+    """Returns a string of album art format; reflecting
+    the config's specified album art filename.
+    """
+    legacy_art_filename = config_val(config, 'beets', 'art_filename', None)
+    if legacy_art_filename:
+        # Old art filename format override the default value.
+        art_filename = Template(legacy_art_filename)
+    else:
+        # If no legacy art filename format, use the default instead.
+        art_filename = DEFAULT_ART_FILENAME
+ 
+    return art_filename
+
 def _pick_format(config=None, album=False, fmt=None):
     """Pick a format string for printing Album or Item objects,
     falling back to config options and defaults.
@@ -771,8 +785,7 @@ def _raw_main(args, configfh):
     directory = options.directory or \
         config_val(config, 'beets', 'directory', default_dir)
     path_formats = _get_path_formats(config)
-    art_filename = \
-        config_val(config, 'beets', 'art_filename', DEFAULT_ART_FILENAME)
+    art_filename = _get_art_filename(config)
     lib_timeout = config_val(config, 'beets', 'timeout', DEFAULT_TIMEOUT)
     replacements = _get_replacements(config)
     try: