diff --git a/core/video/youtube.py b/core/video/youtube.py
index 71a21082..6c0e3acf 100644
--- a/core/video/youtube.py
+++ b/core/video/youtube.py
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ def search_channels(query, limit=6, ydl_factory=None):
             "youtube_id": cid,
             "title": title,
             "handle": uid if str(uid or "").startswith("@") else None,
-            "avatar_url": _best_thumb(e.get("thumbnails")),
+            "avatar_url": _best_thumb(e.get("thumbnails")) or e.get("thumbnail"),
             "subscriber_count": e.get("channel_follower_count"),
             "video_count": e.get("playlist_count"),
         })
diff --git a/webui/static/video/video-search.js b/webui/static/video/video-search.js
index 0c5fc4f3..8597d3e4 100644
--- a/webui/static/video/video-search.js
+++ b/webui/static/video/video-search.js
@@ -79,8 +79,23 @@
     }
 
     // TMDB groups (movies/shows/people) + a YouTube channels group, each painted
-    // as soon as its source resolves (they're fetched in parallel).
-    function render(results, ytChannels) {
+    // as soon as its source resolves (they're fetched in parallel). While YouTube
+    // is still in flight a "Searching YouTube…" skeleton group shows — so an empty
+    // TMDB result never flashes "No results" before the channels arrive.
+    function ytSkeletonGroup() {
+        var cards = '';
+        for (var i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
+            cards += '<div class="vyt-result vyt-result--skel">' +
+                '<span class="vyt-result-art vyt-skel"></span>' +
+                '<span class="vyt-result-info"><span class="vyt-skel vyt-skel-line"></span>' +
+                '<span class="vyt-skel vyt-skel-line vyt-skel-line--sm"></span></span></div>';
+        }
+        return '<div class="vsr-group"><h2 class="vsr-group-title">' +
+            '<span class="vsr-group-ic" aria-hidden="true">▶</span>YouTube channels' +
+            '<span class="vsr-yt-loading">searching…</span></h2>' +
+            '<div class="vsr-grid vyt-result-grid">' + cards + '</div></div>';
+    }
+    function render(results, ytChannels, ytSearching) {
         var host = $('[data-video-search-results]');
         if (!host) return;
         var html = '';
@@ -101,6 +116,8 @@
                 '<div class="vsr-grid vyt-result-grid">' +
                 ytChannels.map(function (c) { return VideoYoutube.channelResultCard(c); }).join('') +
                 '</div></div>';
+        } else if (ytSearching) {
+            html += ytSkeletonGroup();
         }
         var any = html.length > 0;
         show('[data-video-search-hint]', false);
@@ -138,14 +155,15 @@
         loadTrending();
     }
 
-    var curResults = null, curYt = null;   // TMDB + YouTube halves of the active query
+    var curResults = null, curYt = null, ytSearching = false;   // TMDB + YouTube halves of the active query
     function paint(seq) {
         if (seq !== reqSeq) return;
-        render(curResults || [], curYt || []);
+        render(curResults || [], curYt, ytSearching);
     }
     function runSearch(q) {
         var seq = ++reqSeq;
         curResults = null; curYt = null;
+        ytSearching = !!(window.VideoYoutube && q.length >= 2);
         show('[data-video-search-loading]', true);
         fetch(SEARCH_URL + '?q=' + encodeURIComponent(q), { headers: { 'Accept': 'application/json' } })
             .then(function (r) { return r.ok ? r.json() : null; })
@@ -161,11 +179,12 @@
                 curResults = [];
                 paint(seq);
             });
-        // YouTube channels in parallel (best-effort) — appended as their own group.
-        if (window.VideoYoutube && q.length >= 2) {
+        // YouTube channels in parallel (best-effort) — its own group, shown as a
+        // "searching…" skeleton until it resolves so nothing flashes "No results".
+        if (ytSearching) {
             VideoYoutube.searchChannels(q)
-                .then(function (d) { if (seq !== reqSeq) return; curYt = (d && d.channels) || []; paint(seq); })
-                .catch(function () { if (seq !== reqSeq) return; curYt = []; paint(seq); });
+                .then(function (d) { if (seq !== reqSeq) return; curYt = (d && d.channels) || []; ytSearching = false; paint(seq); })
+                .catch(function () { if (seq !== reqSeq) return; curYt = []; ytSearching = false; paint(seq); });
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/webui/static/video/video-side.css b/webui/static/video/video-side.css
index 4456909c..ddde3055 100644
--- a/webui/static/video/video-side.css
+++ b/webui/static/video/video-side.css
@@ -2960,3 +2960,18 @@ body[data-side="video"] #soulsync-toggle { display: none; }
 .vd-yt-plvid-title { font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; color: #fff; line-height: 1.3; margin-top: 7px;
     display: -webkit-box; -webkit-line-clamp: 2; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; overflow: hidden; }
 .vd-yt-plvid .vd-yt-wish { align-self: flex-start; margin-top: 7px; }
+
+/* YouTube search-results loading state (skeleton cards + "searching…" label) */
+.vsr-yt-loading { margin-left: 10px; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; color: #ff8a8a; opacity: 0.85; }
+.vsr-yt-loading::after { content: ''; display: inline-block; width: 10px; height: 10px; margin-left: 7px;
+    vertical-align: -1px; border: 2px solid rgba(255,107,107,0.35); border-top-color: #ff6b6b; border-radius: 50%;
+    animation: vytSpin 0.7s linear infinite; }
+@keyframes vytSpin { to { transform: rotate(360deg); } }
+.vyt-skel { background: linear-gradient(100deg, rgba(255,255,255,0.05) 30%, rgba(255,255,255,0.12) 50%, rgba(255,255,255,0.05) 70%);
+    background-size: 200% 100%; animation: vytShimmer 1.3s ease-in-out infinite; }
+@keyframes vytShimmer { 0% { background-position: 200% 0; } 100% { background-position: -200% 0; } }
+.vyt-result--skel { pointer-events: none; }
+.vyt-result--skel .vyt-result-art { border-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.08); }
+.vyt-skel-line { height: 11px; border-radius: 5px; width: 78px; }
+.vyt-skel-line--sm { height: 9px; width: 52px; }
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { .vyt-skel, .vsr-yt-loading::after { animation: none; } }