diff --git a/core/artwork/worker.go b/core/artwork/worker.go
index 3f280c034..03f2aca86 100644
--- a/core/artwork/worker.go
+++ b/core/artwork/worker.go
@@ -319,9 +319,11 @@ func (w *Worker) precache(ctx context.Context, got *acquired) {
 		return
 	}
 	// Same key as the serving path (hash/size/square); only the source of the bytes differs.
+	// square matches what the list surfaces request, otherwise this warms a key nothing reads.
 	item := &resizedItem{
 		hash:       got.ia.Hash,
 		size:       conf.Server.UICoverArtSize,
+		square:     true,
 		lastUpdate: got.ia.UpdatedAt,
 		ffmpeg:     w.deps.ffmpeg,
 		open:       func() (io.ReadCloser, error) { return io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(got.data)), nil },
diff --git a/core/artwork/worker_test.go b/core/artwork/worker_test.go
index 54ac5d09f..af76cefc3 100644
--- a/core/artwork/worker_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/worker_test.go
@@ -562,7 +562,8 @@ var _ = Describe("Worker", func() {
 			Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 			Expect(n).To(Equal(1))
 
-			Expect(imgCache.getKeys()).To(ContainElement(ContainSubstring(".300.false.")))
+			// The list surfaces request square covers, so warming any other key is wasted work.
+			Expect(imgCache.getKeys()).To(ContainElement(ContainSubstring(".300.true.")))
 		})
 
 		It("skips warming when precache is disabled", func() {
@@ -593,7 +594,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Worker", func() {
 			// from the bytes handed in. Probing with a source that refuses to open proves it
 			// is really cached rather than re-read on demand.
 			probe := &resizedItem{
-				hash: ia.Hash, size: 300, lastUpdate: ia.UpdatedAt, ffmpeg: ffm,
+				hash: ia.Hash, size: 300, square: true, lastUpdate: ia.UpdatedAt, ffmpeg: ffm,
 				open: func() (io.ReadCloser, error) { return nil, errors.New("precache must not re-read the source") },
 			}
 			stream, err := imgCache.Get(ctx, probe)