diff --git a/beets/test/helper.py b/beets/test/helper.py
index 3cb1e4c3ca..20ba4f4abb 100644
--- a/beets/test/helper.py
+++ b/beets/test/helper.py
@@ -364,15 +364,17 @@ def add_album_fixture(
                 items.append(item)
         return self.lib.add_album(items)
 
-    def create_mediafile_fixture(self, ext="mp3", images=[]):
+    def create_mediafile_fixture(self, ext="mp3", images=[], target_dir=None):
         """Copy a fixture mediafile with the extension to `temp_dir`.
 
         `images` is a subset of 'png', 'jpg', and 'tiff'. For each
         specified extension a cover art image is added to the media
         file.
         """
+        if not target_dir:
+            target_dir = self.temp_dir
         src = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, util.bytestring_path(f"full.{ext}"))
-        handle, path = mkstemp(dir=self.temp_dir)
+        handle, path = mkstemp(dir=target_dir)
         path = bytestring_path(path)
         os.close(handle)
         shutil.copyfile(syspath(src), syspath(path))
diff --git a/beetsplug/_utils/art.py b/beetsplug/_utils/art.py
index 656c303ce5..fce650c5b5 100644
--- a/beetsplug/_utils/art.py
+++ b/beetsplug/_utils/art.py
@@ -206,9 +206,14 @@ def extract_first(log, outpath, items):
             return real_path
 
 
+def clear_item(item, log):
+    if mediafile.MediaFile(syspath(item.path)).images:
+        log.debug("Clearing art for {}", item)
+        item.try_write(tags={"images": None})
+
+
 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})
+        clear_item(item, log)
diff --git a/beetsplug/embedart.py b/beetsplug/embedart.py
index cbf40f5708..08e63836c7 100644
--- a/beetsplug/embedart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/embedart.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ def __init__(self):
                 "ifempty": False,
                 "remove_art_file": False,
                 "quality": 0,
+                "clearart_on_import": False,
             }
         )
 
@@ -82,6 +83,9 @@ def __init__(self):
 
         self.register_listener("art_set", self.process_album)
 
+        if self.config["clearart_on_import"].get(bool):
+            self.register_listener("import_task_files", self.import_task_files)
+
     def commands(self):
         # Embed command.
         embed_cmd = ui.Subcommand(
@@ -278,3 +282,9 @@ def remove_artfile(self, album):
                 os.remove(syspath(album.artpath))
                 album.artpath = None
                 album.store()
+
+    def import_task_files(self, session, task):
+        """Automatically clearart of imported files."""
+        for item in task.imported_items():
+            self._log.debug("clearart-on-import {.filepath}", item)
+            art.clear_item(item, self._log)
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_embedart.py b/test/plugins/test_embedart.py
index d40025374a..a7038b152b 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_embedart.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_embedart.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 from beets.test.helper import (
     BeetsTestCase,
     FetchImageHelper,
+    ImportHelper,
     IOMixin,
     PluginMixin,
 )
@@ -75,7 +76,9 @@ def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
     return wrapper
 
 
-class EmbedartCliTest(IOMixin, PluginMixin, FetchImageHelper, BeetsTestCase):
+class EmbedartCliTest(
+    ImportHelper, IOMixin, PluginMixin, FetchImageHelper, BeetsTestCase
+):
     plugin = "embedart"
     small_artpath = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, b"image-2x3.jpg")
     abbey_artpath = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, b"abbey.jpg")
@@ -225,10 +228,20 @@ def test_clear_art_with_yes_input(self):
         item = album.items()[0]
         self.io.addinput("y")
         self.run_command("embedart", "-f", self.small_artpath)
+        embedded_time = os.path.getmtime(syspath(item.path))
+
         self.io.addinput("y")
         self.run_command("clearart")
         mediafile = MediaFile(syspath(item.path))
         assert not mediafile.images
+        clear_time = os.path.getmtime(syspath(item.path))
+        assert clear_time > embedded_time
+
+        # A run on a file without an image should not be modified
+        self.io.addinput("y")
+        self.run_command("clearart")
+        no_clear_time = os.path.getmtime(syspath(item.path))
+        assert no_clear_time == clear_time
 
     def test_clear_art_with_no_input(self):
         self._setup_data()
@@ -273,6 +286,32 @@ def test_embed_art_from_url_not_image(self):
         mediafile = MediaFile(syspath(item.path))
         assert not mediafile.images
 
+    def test_clearart_on_import_disabled(self):
+        file_path = self.create_mediafile_fixture(
+            images=["jpg"], target_dir=self.import_path
+        )
+        self.import_media.append(file_path)
+        with self.configure_plugin({"clearart_on_import": False}):
+            importer = self.setup_importer(autotag=False, write=True)
+            importer.run()
+
+        item = self.lib.items()[0]
+        assert MediaFile(os.path.join(item.path)).images
+
+    def test_clearart_on_import_enabled(self):
+        file_path = self.create_mediafile_fixture(
+            images=["jpg"], target_dir=self.import_path
+        )
+        self.import_media.append(file_path)
+        # Force re-init the plugin to register the listener
+        self.unload_plugins()
+        with self.configure_plugin({"clearart_on_import": True}):
+            importer = self.setup_importer(autotag=False, write=True)
+            importer.run()
+
+        item = self.lib.items()[0]
+        assert not MediaFile(os.path.join(item.path)).images
+
 
 class DummyArtResizer(ArtResizer):
     """An `ArtResizer` which pretends that ImageMagick is available, and has