diff --git a/core/artwork/resolve.go b/core/artwork/resolve.go
index dc9285bc1..919a56978 100644
--- a/core/artwork/resolve.go
+++ b/core/artwork/resolve.go
@@ -10,15 +10,12 @@ import (
 	"image/png"
 	"io"
 	"io/fs"
-	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/Masterminds/squirrel"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
-	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/consts"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/agents"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/ffmpeg"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
@@ -216,7 +213,7 @@ func resolvePlaylist(ctx context.Context, ds model.DataStore, ag *agents.Agents,
 		return resolution{}, nil
 	}
 	if remoteImg != nil && conf.Server.EnableM3UExternalAlbumArt {
-		sf := func() (io.ReadCloser, string, error) { return fetchPlaylistImageURL(ctx, remoteImg) }
+		sf := func() (io.ReadCloser, string, error) { return fromURL(ctx, remoteImg) }
 		if res, ok, isErr := resolveExternalStep(gate, "m3u", sf); ok {
 			return res, nil
 		} else if isErr {
@@ -335,27 +332,6 @@ func classifyPlaylistImage(imageURL string) (localPath string, remote *url.URL)
 	}
 }
 
-// Like sources.go's fromURL but maps 404/410 to ErrNotFound (definitive), so a stale M3U
-// cover URL falls through to the grid instead of retrying forever and tripping the breaker.
-func fetchPlaylistImageURL(ctx context.Context, imageURL *url.URL) (io.ReadCloser, string, error) {
-	hc := http.Client{Timeout: 5 * time.Second}
-	req, _ := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodGet, imageURL.String(), nil)
-	req.Header.Set("User-Agent", consts.HTTPUserAgent)
-	resp, err := hc.Do(req) //nolint:gosec
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-	if resp.StatusCode == http.StatusNotFound || resp.StatusCode == http.StatusGone {
-		resp.Body.Close()
-		return nil, "", model.ErrNotFound
-	}
-	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
-		resp.Body.Close()
-		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("error retrieving artwork from %s: %s", imageURL, resp.Status)
-	}
-	return resp.Body, imageURL.String(), nil
-}
-
 func resolveEmbedded(ctx context.Context, lib libraryView, ffm ffmpeg.FFmpeg, embedRel string) (resolution, bool) {
 	if embedRel == "" {
 		return resolution{}, false
diff --git a/core/artwork/sources.go b/core/artwork/sources.go
index 9e9916e3e..b31c69f79 100644
--- a/core/artwork/sources.go
+++ b/core/artwork/sources.go
@@ -177,6 +177,13 @@ func fromURL(ctx context.Context, imageUrl *url.URL) (io.ReadCloser, string, err
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, "", err
 	}
+	// A dead image URL is a definitive miss, not a transient fault: agents (e.g. Last.fm) can
+	// advertise an image URL that 404s. Map it to ErrNotFound so it settles absent instead of
+	// retrying forever and tripping the artwork breaker.
+	if resp.StatusCode == http.StatusNotFound || resp.StatusCode == http.StatusGone {
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		return nil, "", model.ErrNotFound
+	}
 	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
 		resp.Body.Close()
 		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("error retrieving artwork from %s: %s", imageUrl, resp.Status)