diff --git a/beets/importer.py b/beets/importer.py
index f6bdf5209..dc41278fc 100644
--- a/beets/importer.py
+++ b/beets/importer.py
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ class ImportTask(object):
                                 lib.directory)
 
     def finalize(self, session):
-        """Save items to library, save progress and emit plugin event.
+        """Save progress clean up files, and emit plugin event.
         """
         # FIXME the session argument is unfortunate. It should be
         # present as an attribute of the task.
@@ -394,11 +394,6 @@ class ImportTask(object):
         if config['import']['incremental']:
             self.save_history()
 
-        if not self.skip:
-            with session.lib.transaction():
-                for item in self.imported_items():
-                    item.store()
-
         self.cleanup()
         self._emit_imported(session)
 
@@ -538,6 +533,10 @@ class ImportTask(object):
             if config['import']['write'] and self.apply:
                 item.try_write()
 
+        with session.lib.transaction():
+            for item in self.imported_items():
+                item.store()
+
         plugins.send('import_task_files', session=session, task=self)