diff --git a/api/video/youtube.py b/api/video/youtube.py
index 29b3509f..5155c09c 100644
--- a/api/video/youtube.py
+++ b/api/video/youtube.py
@@ -147,6 +147,12 @@ def register_routes(bp):
                 return jsonify({"success": False, "error": "Channel not found"}), 404
             cid = channel["youtube_id"]
             following = bool(db.channel_watch_state([cid]))
+            # backfill the real avatar onto wished rows (flat listing often omits it)
+            if channel.get("avatar_url"):
+                try:
+                    db.set_wishlist_channel_poster(cid, channel["avatar_url"])
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
             wished = db.youtube_video_wish_state([v.get("youtube_id") for v in channel.get("videos") or []])
             for v in channel.get("videos") or []:
                 v["wished"] = v.get("youtube_id") in wished
diff --git a/database/video_database.py b/database/video_database.py
index 3e95b2ce..2224cb53 100644
--- a/database/video_database.py
+++ b/database/video_database.py
@@ -1975,6 +1975,22 @@ class VideoDatabase:
         finally:
             conn.close()
 
+    def set_wishlist_channel_poster(self, channel_id, poster_url) -> int:
+        """Refresh the channel avatar on all of a channel's wished video rows — used
+        to backfill avatars that flat listing didn't surface (channel page resolves
+        the real avatar). Returns rows updated."""
+        if not poster_url or not channel_id:
+            return 0
+        conn = self._get_connection()
+        try:
+            cur = conn.execute(
+                "UPDATE video_wishlist SET poster_url=? WHERE kind='video' AND parent_source_id=?",
+                (poster_url, str(channel_id)))
+            conn.commit()
+            return cur.rowcount
+        finally:
+            conn.close()
+
     def youtube_wishlist_counts(self) -> dict:
         """{'channel': n distinct channels, 'video': n videos} in the wishlist."""
         conn = self._get_connection()
diff --git a/tests/test_video_database.py b/tests/test_video_database.py
index 12892e8b..82133d15 100644
--- a/tests/test_video_database.py
+++ b/tests/test_video_database.py
@@ -1144,3 +1144,16 @@ def test_upgrade_from_pre_source_schema(tmp_path):
     assert db.add_videos_to_wishlist({"youtube_id": "UCx", "title": "Chan"},
                                      [{"youtube_id": "x1", "title": "X1"}]) == 1
     assert db.youtube_wishlist_counts() == {"channel": 1, "video": 1}
+
+
+def test_set_wishlist_channel_poster_backfills_avatar(db):
+    # videos added without an avatar (flat listing omitted it) → poster_url null
+    db.add_videos_to_wishlist({"youtube_id": "UCx", "title": "X"},
+                              [{"youtube_id": "a", "title": "A", "published_at": "2024-01-01"},
+                               {"youtube_id": "b", "title": "B", "published_at": "2024-02-01"}])
+    grp = db.query_youtube_wishlist()["items"][0]
+    assert not grp["poster_url"]
+    # backfilling the resolved avatar fills every row → the orb gets its poster
+    assert db.set_wishlist_channel_poster("UCx", "http://yt/avatar.jpg") == 2
+    grp = db.query_youtube_wishlist()["items"][0]
+    assert grp["poster_url"] == "http://yt/avatar.jpg"
diff --git a/webui/static/video/video-wishlist.js b/webui/static/video/video-wishlist.js
index dfcdcc44..89efad89 100644
--- a/webui/static/video/video-wishlist.js
+++ b/webui/static/video/video-wishlist.js
@@ -82,8 +82,11 @@
             : 'data-vwsh-open-show data-vwsh-src="' + src + '" data-vwsh-id="' + esc(openId) + '"';
         var hue = hueOf(sh.title);
         var total = sh.wanted || 0;
-        var img = sh.poster_url
-            ? '<img class="wl-orb-img" src="' + esc(sh.poster_url) + '" alt="" ' +
+        // Channel avatar can be missing (flat listing doesn't always surface it) —
+        // fall back to the newest video's thumbnail so the orb is never blank.
+        var poster = sh.poster_url || (yt && (sh.seasons || [])[0] ? sh.seasons[0].poster_url : null);
+        var img = poster
+            ? '<img class="wl-orb-img" src="' + esc(poster) + '" alt="" ' +
               'onerror="this.outerHTML=\'<div class=&quot;wl-orb-initials&quot;>' + esc(initials(sh.title)) + '</div>\'">'
             : '<div class="wl-orb-initials">' + esc(initials(sh.title)) + '</div>';
         // Episodes are shown grouped under a clickable season header (header →
@@ -113,7 +116,7 @@
         // --orb-hue on the GROUP so the music orb styles + my cinematic-expand
         // backdrop (--vwsh-poster) both resolve; poster bleeds in only when expanded.
         var gstyle = 'animation-delay:' + Math.min(idx * 45, 700) + 'ms;--orb-hue:' + hue +
-            (sh.poster_url ? ";--vwsh-poster:url('" + esc(sh.poster_url) + "')" : '');
+            (poster ? ";--vwsh-poster:url('" + esc(poster) + "')" : '');
         var prog = total ? Math.max(0, Math.min(1, (sh.done || 0) / total)) : 0;   // #4 acquisition progress
         // Header is a 3-column row that FLANKS the poster: synopsis (left) · poster
         // (middle) · cast (right). When collapsed (or no data) the side columns are