diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/thumbnails.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/thumbnails.py
index 8e6b8716..43cd981e 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/thumbnails.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/thumbnails.py
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ class ThumbManagerBase:
 
     def download_raw(self, url):
         """download thumbnail for video"""
+        if not url:
+            return self.get_fallback()
 
         for i in range(3):
             try: