diff --git a/beets/config_default.yaml b/beets/config_default.yaml
index 4c12c3df07..fa77a82dc5 100644
--- a/beets/config_default.yaml
+++ b/beets/config_default.yaml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import:
     group_albums: no
     pretend: false
     search_ids: []
+    duplicate_action: ask
 
 clutter: ["Thumbs.DB", ".DS_Store"]
 ignore: [".*", "*~", "System Volume Information", "lost+found"]
diff --git a/beets/importer.py b/beets/importer.py
index 4209a48315..60aeb2f2b3 100644
--- a/beets/importer.py
+++ b/beets/importer.py
@@ -1327,7 +1327,29 @@ def resolve_duplicates(session, task):
             log.debug(u'found duplicates: {}'.format(
                 [o.id for o in found_duplicates]
             ))
-            session.resolve_duplicate(task, found_duplicates)
+
+            # Get the default action to follow from config.
+            duplicate_action = config['import']['duplicate_action'].as_choice({
+                u'skip': u's',
+                u'keep': u'k',
+                u'remove': u'r',
+                u'ask': u'a',
+            })
+            log.debug(u'default action for duplicates: {0}', duplicate_action)
+
+            if duplicate_action == u's':
+                # Skip new.
+                task.set_choice(action.SKIP)
+            elif duplicate_action == u'k':
+                # Keep both. Do nothing; leave the choice intact.
+                pass
+            elif duplicate_action == u'r':
+                # Remove old.
+                task.should_remove_duplicates = True
+            else:
+                # No default action set; ask the session.
+                session.resolve_duplicate(task, found_duplicates)
+
             session.log_choice(task, True)
 
 
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 64b582450a..b350381af5 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ New features:
 
 * A new ``--force`` option for :ref:`remove-cmd` allows removal of items
   without prompting beforehand. :bug:`2042`
+* A new importer configuration :ref:`duplicate_action` controls how
+  duplicate albums or tracks treated in import task. :bug:`185`
 
 Some fixes for Windows:
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/config.rst b/docs/reference/config.rst
index 4ca54652aa..0892aaa301 100644
--- a/docs/reference/config.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/config.rst
@@ -550,6 +550,17 @@ with the ``-a`` flag to the :ref:`import-cmd` command.)
 
 Default: ``yes``.
 
+.. _duplicate_action:
+
+duplicate_action
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Either ``skip``, ``keep``, ``remove``, or ``ask``. Controls how duplicates
+are treated in import task. "skip" means that new item(album or track) will be
+skiped; "keep" means keep both old and new items; "remove" means remove old
+item; "ask" means the user should be prompted for the action each time.
+The default is ``ask``.
+
 
 .. _musicbrainz-config: