diff --git a/webui/index.html b/webui/index.html
index 8344ca8a..47ec78aa 100644
--- a/webui/index.html
+++ b/webui/index.html
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@
 
                 <!-- Track info row -->
                 <div class="media-header">
-                    <img class="sidebar-album-art" id="sidebar-album-art" src="" alt="">
+                    <img class="sidebar-album-art" id="sidebar-album-art" src="/static/trans2.png" alt="" onerror="this.src='/static/trans2.png'">
                     <div class="media-info">
                         <div class="track-title" id="track-title">No track</div>
                         <div class="artist-name" id="artist-name">Unknown Artist</div>
diff --git a/webui/static/script.js b/webui/static/script.js
index 2ceec24c..bb6c3b25 100644
--- a/webui/static/script.js
+++ b/webui/static/script.js
@@ -4284,9 +4284,9 @@ function updateNpTrackInfo() {
             if (artUrl) {
                 sidebarArt.src = artUrl;
                 sidebarArt.style.display = '';
-                sidebarArt.onerror = () => { sidebarArt.src = ''; };
+                sidebarArt.onerror = () => { sidebarArt.src = '/static/trans2.png'; };
             } else {
-                sidebarArt.src = '';
+                sidebarArt.src = '/static/trans2.png';
             }
         }
 
@@ -4332,7 +4332,7 @@ function updateNpTrackInfo() {
         artistEl.textContent = 'Unknown Artist';
         albumEl.textContent = 'Unknown Album';
         if (artImg) artImg.classList.add('hidden');
-        if (sidebarArt) sidebarArt.src = '';
+        if (sidebarArt) sidebarArt.src = '/static/trans2.png';
         if (badgesEl) badgesEl.innerHTML = '';
         if (actionBtns) actionBtns.classList.add('hidden');
         npResetAmbientGlow();