diff --git a/beetsplug/ftintitle.py b/beetsplug/ftintitle.py
index 831236b3c..dd3460fd8 100644
--- a/beetsplug/ftintitle.py
+++ b/beetsplug/ftintitle.py
@@ -16,10 +16,12 @@
 """
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
 from beets import ui
-from beets.util import displayable_path
 from beets import config
+import logging
 import re
 
+log = logging.getLogger('beets')
+
 
 def split_on_feat(artist):
     """Given an artist string, split the "main" artist from any artist
@@ -69,55 +71,30 @@ def update_metadata(item, feat_part, drop_feat):
         item.title = new_title
 
 
-def ft_in_title(item, drop_feat):
+def ft_in_title(item, drop_feat, write):
     """Look for featured artists in the item's artist fields and move
     them to the title.
     """
     artist = item.artist.strip()
-    albumartist = item.albumartist.strip()
 
-    # Check whether there is a featured artist on this track and the
-    # artist field does not exactly match the album artist field. In
-    # that case, we attempt to move the featured artist to the title.
-    _, featured = split_on_feat(artist)
-    if featured and albumartist != artist and albumartist:
-        ui.print_(displayable_path(item.path))
-        feat_part = None
+    _, feat_part = split_on_feat(artist)
 
-        # Look for the album artist in the artist field. If it's not
-        # present, give up.
-        albumartist_split = artist.split(albumartist)
-        if len(albumartist_split) <= 1:
-            ui.print_('album artist not present in artist')
+    if feat_part:
+        update_metadata(item, feat_part, drop_feat)
+    else:
+        ui.print_(u'no featuring artists found')
 
-        # If the last element of the split (the right-hand side of the
-        # album artist) is nonempty, then it probably contains the
-        # featured artist.
-        elif albumartist_split[-1] != '':
-            # Extract the featured artist from the right-hand side.
-            _, feat_part = split_on_feat(albumartist_split[-1])
-
-        # Otherwise, if there's nothing on the right-hand side, look for a
-        # featuring artist on the left-hand side.
-        else:
-            lhs, rhs = split_on_feat(albumartist_split[0])
-            if rhs:
-                feat_part = lhs
-
-        # If we have a featuring artist, move it to the title.
-        if feat_part:
-            update_metadata(item, feat_part, drop_feat)
-        else:
-            ui.print_(u'no featuring artists found')
-
-        ui.print_()
+    if write:
+        item.try_write()
+    item.store()
 
 
 class FtInTitlePlugin(BeetsPlugin):
     def __init__(self):
         super(FtInTitlePlugin, self).__init__()
-
+        self.import_stages = [self.imported]
         self.config.add({
+            'auto': True,
             'drop': False
         })
 
@@ -138,10 +115,16 @@ class FtInTitlePlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             write = config['import']['write'].get(bool)
 
             for item in lib.items(ui.decargs(args)):
-                ft_in_title(item, drop_feat)
-                item.store()
-                if write:
-                    item.try_write()
+                ft_in_title(item, drop_feat, write)
 
         self._command.func = func
         return [self._command]
+
+    def imported(self, session, task):
+        """Import hook for moving featuring artist automatically.
+        """
+        drop_feat = self.config['drop'].get(bool)
+        write = config['import']['write'].get(bool)
+        if self.config['auto'].get(bool):
+            for item in task.imported_items():
+                ft_in_title(item, drop_feat, write)
diff --git a/docs/plugins/ftintitle.rst b/docs/plugins/ftintitle.rst
index ed13cb840..c8bf48f46 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/ftintitle.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/ftintitle.rst
@@ -21,4 +21,6 @@ If you prefer to remove featured artists entirely instead of adding them to
 the title field, either use the ``-d`` flag to the command or set the
 ``ftintitle.drop`` config option.
 
+To disable this plugin on import, set the ``auto`` config option to false.
+
 .. _MusicBrainz style: http://musicbrainz.org/doc/Style