diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/thumbnails.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/thumbnails.py
index 95461e8c..7041ec2f 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/thumbnails.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/thumbnails.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class ThumbManagerBase:
                 print(f"{self.item_id}: retry thumbnail download {url}")
                 sleep((i + 1) ** i)
 
-        return False
+        return self.get_fallback()
 
     def get_fallback(self):
         """get fallback thumbnail if not available"""