diff --git a/core/artwork/agent_images.go b/core/artwork/agent_images.go
index 029235830..95991629f 100644
--- a/core/artwork/agent_images.go
+++ b/core/artwork/agent_images.go
@@ -25,25 +25,24 @@ func denyGate(_ string, _ func() (io.ReadCloser, string, error)) (io.ReadCloser,
 }
 
 // bestImageURL returns the largest-Size image URL, skipping empty or unparseable
-// URLs; nil when none qualifies.
+// URLs; nil when none qualifies. Parsing happens per candidate so a malformed largest
+// URL never shadows a valid smaller one.
 func bestImageURL(imgs []agents.ExternalImage) *url.URL {
-	var best *agents.ExternalImage
+	var best *url.URL
+	var bestSize int
 	for i := range imgs {
 		if imgs[i].URL == "" {
 			continue
 		}
-		if best == nil || imgs[i].Size > best.Size {
-			best = &imgs[i]
+		u, err := url.Parse(imgs[i].URL)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if best == nil || imgs[i].Size > bestSize {
+			best, bestSize = u, imgs[i].Size
 		}
 	}
-	if best == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	u, err := url.Parse(best.URL)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return u
+	return best
 }
 
 // fetchArtistImage tries each enabled artist-image agent in order, each under its own gate.
diff --git a/core/artwork/agent_images_test.go b/core/artwork/agent_images_test.go
index f90863aed..0bcd7667a 100644
--- a/core/artwork/agent_images_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/agent_images_test.go
@@ -82,6 +82,15 @@ var _ = Describe("agent images", func() {
 			Expect(u.String()).To(Equal("http://x/big"))
 		})
 
+		It("skips a malformed largest URL and falls back to a valid smaller one", func() {
+			u := bestImageURL([]agents.ExternalImage{
+				{URL: "http://x/valid", Size: 10},
+				{URL: "http://x/%zz", Size: 100}, // invalid percent-escape, largest
+			})
+			Expect(u).ToNot(BeNil())
+			Expect(u.String()).To(Equal("http://x/valid"))
+		})
+
 		It("returns nil when there is no non-empty URL", func() {
 			Expect(bestImageURL(nil)).To(BeNil())
 			Expect(bestImageURL([]agents.ExternalImage{{URL: "", Size: 5}})).To(BeNil())