diff --git a/cmd/artwork.go b/cmd/artwork.go
index d75bc09e9..915a3a393 100644
--- a/cmd/artwork.go
+++ b/cmd/artwork.go
@@ -573,10 +573,6 @@ func explainResult(source string, steps []artwork.TraceStep) string {
 	return "not resolved"
 }
 
-// keepsArtworkState reports whether a kind is recorded in item_artwork and the queue at all. Disc
-// artwork is resolved on every request and cached by content key, so it has neither.
-func keepsArtworkState(kind model.Kind) bool { return kind != model.KindDiscArtwork }
-
 // explainConfig names the setting that decides where a kind's artwork comes from, and its value.
 func explainConfig(kind model.Kind) (name, value string) {
 	switch kind {
@@ -608,7 +604,7 @@ func formatExplain(rep explainReport) string {
 	var sb strings.Builder
 	w := newTabWriter(&sb)
 	explainable := artwork.Explainable(rep.kind)
-	stateful := keepsArtworkState(rep.kind)
+	stateful := artwork.KeepsState(rep.kind)
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "Item")
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "  Kind:\t%s (%s)\n", rep.kind, rep.kind.Prefix())
@@ -693,7 +689,7 @@ func runExplain(ctx context.Context, kind model.Kind, id string) {
 		log.Fatal(ctx, "Item not found", "kind", kind, "id", id, err)
 	}
 	rep := explainReport{kind: kind, id: id, name: name}
-	if keepsArtworkState(kind) {
+	if artwork.KeepsState(kind) {
 		rep.stored, err = ds.Artwork(ctx).GetItemArtwork(kind, id, model.ImageTypePrimary)
 		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, model.ErrNotFound) {
 			log.Fatal(ctx, "Failed to read artwork state", "kind", kind, "id", id, err)
diff --git a/core/artwork/artwork.go b/core/artwork/artwork.go
index 91028521d..7edc80e99 100644
--- a/core/artwork/artwork.go
+++ b/core/artwork/artwork.go
@@ -320,13 +320,7 @@ func (s *service) serveDisc(ctx context.Context, artID model.ArtworkID, size int
 	// Single-disc albums run the chain too: a disc can carry art distinct from the album cover.
 	selectImage := func() (io.ReadCloser, error) {
 		res, err := dr.selectImage(ctx, s.ffmpeg, conf.Server.DiscArtPriority, &chainState{})
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		if res.reader == nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not get `%s` cover art for %s: %w", artID.Kind, artID, ErrUnavailable)
-		}
-		return res.reader, nil
+		return res.reader, err
 	}
 	albumArtID := model.ArtworkID{Kind: model.KindAlbumArtwork, ID: dr.album.ID}
 	// Disc art has no state row, hence no content hash: keying on id, album mtime and
diff --git a/core/artwork/housekeeping.go b/core/artwork/housekeeping.go
index d6dddf402..ae1fc0a0d 100644
--- a/core/artwork/housekeeping.go
+++ b/core/artwork/housekeeping.go
@@ -26,8 +26,13 @@ var RecheckKinds = []model.Kind{
 	model.KindArtistArtwork, model.KindAlbumArtwork, model.KindPlaylistArtwork, model.KindRadioArtwork,
 }
 
-// RefreshableKinds is every kind Refresh can clear and re-queue. Media files are absent from
-// RecheckKinds but belong here: the worker resolves them, it just never revisits them on its own.
+// KeepsState reports whether a kind is recorded in item_artwork and the artwork queue. Disc
+// artwork is read through on every request and cached by content key, so it has neither.
+func KeepsState(kind model.Kind) bool { return kind != model.KindDiscArtwork }
+
+// RefreshableKinds is every kind Refresh can clear and re-queue, so it holds exactly the kinds
+// KeepsState admits. Media files are absent from RecheckKinds but belong here: the worker
+// resolves them, it just never revisits them on its own.
 var RefreshableKinds = append(slices.Clone(RecheckKinds), model.KindMediaFileArtwork)
 
 // hasRecheckPath reports whether a periodic job will revisit this kind, making an absent settle recoverable.
diff --git a/core/artwork/housekeeping_test.go b/core/artwork/housekeeping_test.go
index 45fbdb4f9..32a7688b4 100644
--- a/core/artwork/housekeeping_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/housekeeping_test.go
@@ -52,6 +52,19 @@ func (o *orderTrackingQueueRepo) Enqueue(items ...model.ArtworkQueueItem) error
 	return o.MockArtworkQueueRepo.Enqueue(items...)
 }
 
+var _ = Describe("RefreshableKinds", func() {
+	// The two are meant to describe the same fact. Nothing but this test stops them from drifting,
+	// and a drift would have `artwork explain` report state for a kind that keeps none.
+	It("holds exactly the kinds that keep state", func() {
+		for _, k := range []model.Kind{
+			model.KindArtistArtwork, model.KindAlbumArtwork, model.KindPlaylistArtwork,
+			model.KindRadioArtwork, model.KindMediaFileArtwork, model.KindDiscArtwork,
+		} {
+			Expect(slices.Contains(RefreshableKinds, k)).To(Equal(KeepsState(k)), k.String())
+		}
+	})
+})
+
 var _ = Describe("Housekeeping", func() {
 	var (
 		ctx       context.Context