diff --git a/beetsplug/_utils/art.py b/beetsplug/_utils/art.py
index 656c303ce..264802ba5 100644
--- a/beetsplug/_utils/art.py
+++ b/beetsplug/_utils/art.py
@@ -210,5 +210,8 @@ def clear(log, lib, query):
     items = lib.items(query)
     log.info("Clearing album art from {} items", len(items))
     for item in items:
-        log.debug("Clearing art for {}", item)
-        item.try_write(tags={"images": None})
+        if mediafile.MediaFile(syspath(item.path)).images:
+            log.debug("Clearing art for {}", item)
+            item.try_write(tags={"images": None})
+        else:
+            log.debug("No art to clean for {}", item)
diff --git a/beetsplug/embedart.py b/beetsplug/embedart.py
index cbf40f570..ab02f13b5 100644
--- a/beetsplug/embedart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/embedart.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import os.path
 import tempfile
 from mimetypes import guess_extension
+from unittest import mock
 
 import requests
 
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_embedart.py b/test/plugins/test_embedart.py
index d40025374..3b07a6a72 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_embedart.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_embedart.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import os
 import os.path
 import shutil
 import tempfile
+import time
 import unittest
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
@@ -225,10 +226,22 @@ class EmbedartCliTest(IOMixin, PluginMixin, FetchImageHelper, BeetsTestCase):
         item = album.items()[0]
         self.io.addinput("y")
         self.run_command("embedart", "-f", self.small_artpath)
+        embedded_time = item.current_mtime()
+        time.sleep(1)
+
         self.io.addinput("y")
         self.run_command("clearart")
         mediafile = MediaFile(syspath(item.path))
         assert not mediafile.images
+        clear_time = item.current_mtime()
+        assert clear_time > embedded_time
+        time.sleep(1)
+
+        # A run on a file without an image should not be modified
+        self.io.addinput("y")
+        self.run_command("clearart")
+        no_clear_time = item.current_mtime()
+        assert no_clear_time == clear_time
 
     def test_clear_art_with_no_input(self):
         self._setup_data()