diff --git a/mpeg/mpegfile.cpp b/mpeg/mpegfile.cpp
index 3c89ce38..3ecc1625 100644
--- a/mpeg/mpegfile.cpp
+++ b/mpeg/mpegfile.cpp
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ bool MPEG::File::save(int tags)
       insert(d->ID3v2Tag->render(), d->ID3v2Location, d->ID3v2OriginalSize);
     }
     else
-      success = strip(ID3v2) && success;
+      success = strip(ID3v2, false) && success;
   }
   else if(d->hasID3v2)
     success = strip(ID3v2) && success;
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ bool MPEG::File::save(int tags)
       success = strip(ID3v1) && success;
   }
   else if(d->hasID3v1)
-    success = strip(ID3v1) && success;
+    success = strip(ID3v1, false) && success;
 
   return success;
 }
@@ -332,6 +332,11 @@ ID3v1::Tag *MPEG::File::ID3v1Tag(bool create)
 }
 
 bool MPEG::File::strip(int tags)
+{
+  return strip(tags, true);
+}
+
+bool MPEG::File::strip(int tags, bool freeMemory)
 {
   if(readOnly()) {
     debug("MPEG::File::strip() - Cannot strip tags from a read only file.");
@@ -343,8 +348,10 @@ bool MPEG::File::strip(int tags)
     d->ID3v2Location = -1;
     d->ID3v2OriginalSize = 0;
     d->hasID3v2 = false;
-    delete d->ID3v2Tag;
-    d->ID3v2Tag = 0;
+    if(freeMemory) {
+      delete d->ID3v2Tag;
+      d->ID3v2Tag = 0;
+    }
 
     // v1 tag location has changed, update if it exists
     if(d->ID3v1Tag)
@@ -355,8 +362,10 @@ bool MPEG::File::strip(int tags)
     truncate(d->ID3v1Location);
     d->ID3v1Location = -1;
     d->hasID3v1 = false;
-    delete d->ID3v1Tag;
-    d->ID3v1Tag = 0;
+    if(freeMemory) {
+      delete d->ID3v1Tag;
+      d->ID3v1Tag = 0;
+    }
   }
 
   return true;
diff --git a/mpeg/mpegfile.h b/mpeg/mpegfile.h
index a410cf84..334b58d1 100644
--- a/mpeg/mpegfile.h
+++ b/mpeg/mpegfile.h
@@ -171,11 +171,24 @@ namespace TagLib {
        * file.  By default it strips all tags.  It returns true if the tags are
        * successfully stripped.
        *
+       * This is equivalent to strip(tags, true)
+       *
        * \note This will also invalidate pointers to the ID3v2 and ID3v1 tags
        * as their memory will be freed.
        */
       bool strip(int tags = AllTags);
 
+      /*!
+       * This will strip the tags that match the OR-ed together TagTypes from the
+       * file.  By default it strips all tags.  It returns true if the tags are
+       * successfully stripped.
+       *
+       * If \a freeMemory is true the ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags will be deleted and
+       * pointers to them will be invalidated.
+       */
+      // BIC: merge with the method above
+      bool strip(int tags, bool freeMemory);
+
       /*!
        * Set the ID3v2::FrameFactory to something other than the default.
        *