diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index e918c8150..a22eb7d63 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 ver 0.22.11 (not yet released)
+* protocol
+  - fix "albumart" crash
 
 ver 0.22.10 (2021/08/06)
 * protocol
diff --git a/src/command/FileCommands.cxx b/src/command/FileCommands.cxx
index 1a2b3b8c4..e6ff5672d 100644
--- a/src/command/FileCommands.cxx
+++ b/src/command/FileCommands.cxx
@@ -267,6 +267,9 @@ try {
 
 	AtScopeExit(db, song) { db->ReturnSong(song); };
 
+	if (song->real_uri == nullptr)
+		return directory_uri;
+
 	const char *real_uri = song->real_uri;
 
 	/* this is a simplification which is just enough for CUE