diff --git a/src/ffx/cli.py b/src/ffx/cli.py
index 387060f..08de4d7 100755
--- a/src/ffx/cli.py
+++ b/src/ffx/cli.py
@@ -1276,7 +1276,8 @@ def convert(ctx,
                 targetMediaDescriptor.importSubtitles(context['subtitle_directory'],
                                                         context['subtitle_prefix'],
                                                         showSeason,
-                                                        showEpisode)
+                                                        showEpisode,
+                                                        preserve_dispositions=True)
 
             # ctx.obj['logger'].debug(f"tmd subindices: {[t.getIndex() for t in targetMediaDescriptor.getAllTrackDescriptors()]} {[t.getSubIndex() for t in targetMediaDescriptor.getAllTrackDescriptors()]}  {[t.getDispositionFlag(TrackDisposition.DEFAULT) for t in targetMediaDescriptor.getAllTrackDescriptors()]}")
             ctx.obj['logger'].debug(f"tmd subindices: {[t.getIndex() for t in targetMediaDescriptor.getTrackDescriptors()]} {[t.getSubIndex() for t in targetMediaDescriptor.getTrackDescriptors()]}  {[t.getDispositionFlag(TrackDisposition.DEFAULT) for t in targetMediaDescriptor.getTrackDescriptors()]}")
diff --git a/src/ffx/media_descriptor.py b/src/ffx/media_descriptor.py
index c0db35d..deee087 100644
--- a/src/ffx/media_descriptor.py
+++ b/src/ffx/media_descriptor.py
@@ -500,7 +500,14 @@ class MediaDescriptor:
         return subtitleFileDescriptors
 
 
-    def importSubtitles(self, searchDirectory, prefix, season: int = -1, episode: int = -1):
+    def importSubtitles(
+        self,
+        searchDirectory,
+        prefix,
+        season: int = -1,
+        episode: int = -1,
+        preserve_dispositions: bool = False,
+    ):
         
         # click.echo(f"Season: {season} Episode: {episode}")
         self.__logger.debug(f"importSubtitles(): Season: {season} Episode: {episode}")
@@ -543,7 +550,7 @@ class MediaDescriptor:
                 # Prefer metadata coming from the external single-track source when
                 # it is provided explicitly by the filename contract.
                 matchingTrack.getTags()["language"] = msfd["language"]
-                if msfd["disposition_set"]:
+                if msfd["disposition_set"] and not preserve_dispositions:
                     matchingTrack.setDispositionSet(msfd["disposition_set"])
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_media_descriptor_import_subtitles.py b/tests/unit/test_media_descriptor_import_subtitles.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6754b0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_media_descriptor_import_subtitles.py
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+
+
+SRC_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "src"
+
+if str(SRC_ROOT) not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.insert(0, str(SRC_ROOT))
+
+
+from ffx.logging_utils import get_ffx_logger  # noqa: E402
+from ffx.media_descriptor import MediaDescriptor  # noqa: E402
+from ffx.track_descriptor import TrackDescriptor  # noqa: E402
+from ffx.track_disposition import TrackDisposition  # noqa: E402
+from ffx.track_type import TrackType  # noqa: E402
+
+
+class MediaDescriptorImportSubtitlesTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def make_descriptor(self) -> MediaDescriptor:
+        return MediaDescriptor(
+            context={"logger": get_ffx_logger()},
+            track_descriptors=[
+                TrackDescriptor(
+                    index=3,
+                    source_index=3,
+                    sub_index=0,
+                    track_type=TrackType.SUBTITLE,
+                    tags={"language": "eng", "title": "DB Subtitle"},
+                    disposition_set={TrackDisposition.DEFAULT},
+                )
+            ],
+        )
+
+    def test_import_subtitles_preserves_target_dispositions_when_requested(self):
+        descriptor = self.make_descriptor()
+
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
+            sidecar_path = Path(tmpdir) / "dball_S01E01_3_deu_FOR.vtt"
+            sidecar_path.write_text("WEBVTT\n\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+            descriptor.importSubtitles(
+                tmpdir,
+                "dball",
+                season=1,
+                episode=1,
+                preserve_dispositions=True,
+            )
+
+        track = descriptor.getSubtitleTracks()[0]
+        self.assertEqual(str(sidecar_path), track.getExternalSourceFilePath())
+        self.assertEqual("deu", track.getTags()["language"])
+        self.assertEqual({TrackDisposition.DEFAULT}, track.getDispositionSet())
+
+    def test_import_subtitles_uses_sidecar_dispositions_by_default(self):
+        descriptor = self.make_descriptor()
+
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
+            sidecar_path = Path(tmpdir) / "dball_S01E01_3_deu_FOR.vtt"
+            sidecar_path.write_text("WEBVTT\n\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+            descriptor.importSubtitles(
+                tmpdir,
+                "dball",
+                season=1,
+                episode=1,
+            )
+
+        track = descriptor.getSubtitleTracks()[0]
+        self.assertEqual(str(sidecar_path), track.getExternalSourceFilePath())
+        self.assertEqual("deu", track.getTags()["language"])
+        self.assertEqual({TrackDisposition.FORCED}, track.getDispositionSet())
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()