diff --git a/model/album.go b/model/album.go
index 888338df3..f0454752f 100644
--- a/model/album.go
+++ b/model/album.go
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ type AlbumRepository interface {
 	Put(*Album) error
 	UpdateExternalInfo(*Album) error
 	UpdateImage(id, filename string) error
+	CountByImage(filename string) (int64, error)
 	Get(id string) (*Album, error)
 	GetAll(...QueryOptions) (Albums, error)
 	GetCursor(...QueryOptions) (AlbumCursor, error)
diff --git a/persistence/album_repository.go b/persistence/album_repository.go
index 89ce7fb88..3add4e90e 100644
--- a/persistence/album_repository.go
+++ b/persistence/album_repository.go
@@ -238,6 +238,15 @@ func (r *albumRepository) UpdateImage(id, filename string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// CountByImage counts album rows referencing an uploaded image filename, unfiltered by
+// library — CopyAttributes can leave two rows sharing one file across an album-ID change.
+func (r *albumRepository) CountByImage(filename string) (int64, error) {
+	if filename == "" {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	return r.count(Select(), model.QueryOptions{Filters: Eq{"uploaded_image": filename}})
+}
+
 func (r *albumRepository) selectAlbum(options ...model.QueryOptions) SelectBuilder {
 	sql := r.newSelect(options...).Columns("album.*", "library.path as library_path", "library.name as library_name").
 		LeftJoin("library on album.library_id = library.id")
diff --git a/persistence/album_repository_test.go b/persistence/album_repository_test.go
index a3883cb1a..a08425f85 100644
--- a/persistence/album_repository_test.go
+++ b/persistence/album_repository_test.go
@@ -73,6 +73,12 @@ var _ = Describe("AlbumRepository", func() {
 		It("returns ErrNotFound for a missing album", func() {
 			Expect(albumRepo.UpdateImage("does-not-exist", "x.jpg")).To(MatchError(model.ErrNotFound))
 		})
+		It("counts rows sharing an image filename, ignoring library filters", func() {
+			Expect(albumRepo.CountByImage("img-1_cover.jpg")).To(Equal(int64(0)))
+			Expect(albumRepo.UpdateImage("img-1", "img-1_cover.jpg")).To(Succeed())
+			Expect(albumRepo.CountByImage("img-1_cover.jpg")).To(Equal(int64(1)))
+			Expect(albumRepo.CountByImage("")).To(Equal(int64(0)))
+		})
 		It("bumps cover_art_updated_at without touching updated_at", func() {
 			before, err := albumRepo.Get("img-1")
 			Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
diff --git a/server/nativeapi/albums.go b/server/nativeapi/albums.go
index ed63e5a3b..7608d94cf 100644
--- a/server/nativeapi/albums.go
+++ b/server/nativeapi/albums.go
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ func (api *Router) uploadAlbumImage() http.HandlerFunc {
 			}
 			return err
 		}
-		filename, err := api.imgUpload.SetImage(ctx, consts.EntityAlbum, al.ID, al.Name, al.UploadedImagePath(), reader, ext)
+		oldPath, err := api.albumImagePathToRemove(ctx, al)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		filename, err := api.imgUpload.SetImage(ctx, consts.EntityAlbum, al.ID, al.Name, oldPath, reader, ext)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -46,6 +50,23 @@ func (api *Router) uploadAlbumImage() http.HandlerFunc {
 	})
 }
 
+// albumImagePathToRemove returns the album's current image path, or "" when the file is
+// shared with another album row (post album-ID copy) and must be left on disk.
+func (api *Router) albumImagePathToRemove(ctx context.Context, al *model.Album) (string, error) {
+	path := al.UploadedImagePath()
+	if path == "" {
+		return "", nil
+	}
+	refs, err := api.ds.Album(ctx).CountByImage(al.UploadedImage)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if refs > 1 {
+		return "", nil
+	}
+	return path, nil
+}
+
 func (api *Router) deleteAlbumImage() http.HandlerFunc {
 	return handleImageDelete(func(ctx context.Context) error {
 		albumID := chi.URLParamFromCtx(ctx, "id")
@@ -56,7 +77,11 @@ func (api *Router) deleteAlbumImage() http.HandlerFunc {
 			}
 			return err
 		}
-		if err := api.imgUpload.RemoveImage(ctx, al.UploadedImagePath()); err != nil {
+		oldPath, err := api.albumImagePathToRemove(ctx, al)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if err := api.imgUpload.RemoveImage(ctx, oldPath); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		return api.ds.Album(ctx).UpdateImage(al.ID, "")
diff --git a/tests/mock_album_repo.go b/tests/mock_album_repo.go
index 843552fc6..f54805ad3 100644
--- a/tests/mock_album_repo.go
+++ b/tests/mock_album_repo.go
@@ -147,6 +147,19 @@ func (m *MockAlbumRepo) UpdateImage(id, filename string) error {
 	return model.ErrNotFound
 }
 
+func (m *MockAlbumRepo) CountByImage(filename string) (int64, error) {
+	if m.Err {
+		return 0, errors.New("unexpected error")
+	}
+	var n int64
+	for _, al := range m.Data {
+		if filename != "" && al.UploadedImage == filename {
+			n++
+		}
+	}
+	return n, nil
+}
+
 func (m *MockAlbumRepo) Search(q string, options ...model.QueryOptions) (model.Albums, error) {
 	m.SearchQuery = q
 	if len(options) > 0 {