diff --git a/core/boxart_itch.gd b/core/boxart_itch.gd
index 136e8fc..78648e1 100644
--- a/core/boxart_itch.gd
+++ b/core/boxart_itch.gd
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ func _url_for_layout(kind: LAYOUT, cover_url: String, screenshots: Array) -> Str
 			for url in screenshots:
 				if not _is_gif_url(url):
 					return url
+			# cover_url is already sanitized and non-GIF by the time it reaches here
 			return cover_url
 		LAYOUT.BANNER:
 			# Single screenshot fallback (two-screenshot case handled in get_boxart).
@@ -187,7 +188,8 @@ func _url_for_layout(kind: LAYOUT, cover_url: String, screenshots: Array) -> Str
 
 ## Returns a non-GIF URL suitable for portrait/logo from the game data.
 ## Falls back through: stillCoverUrl → coverUrl (non-GIF) → first non-GIF
-## screenshot.
+## screenshot. Returns empty if only GIFs are available, since
+## HTTPImageFetcher cannot decode GIF images.
 func _best_portrait_url(game: Dictionary, screenshots: Array) -> String:
 	# Prefer stillCoverUrl if it's not a GIF
 	var still: String = game.get("stillCoverUrl", "")
@@ -201,8 +203,9 @@ func _best_portrait_url(game: Dictionary, screenshots: Array) -> String:
 	for url in screenshots:
 		if not _is_gif_url(url):
 			return url
-	# Last resort: use whatever we have (GIF)
-	return still if not still.is_empty() else cover
+	# All available URLs are GIFs — return empty so the caller gets null
+	# instead of attempting a doomed fetch.
+	return ""
 
 
 ## Combines two textures side-by-side into a single banner image.
diff --git a/plugin.json b/plugin.json
index 6f90dc0..25b9074 100644
--- a/plugin.json
+++ b/plugin.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "plugin.id": "itch-artprovider",
   "plugin.name": "itch.io Art Provider",
-  "plugin.version": "0.1.8",
+  "plugin.version": "0.1.9",
   "plugin.min-api-version": "1.1.0",
   "plugin.link": "https://forge.thergic.ar/jose/itchio-opengamepadui-artprovider-plugin",
   "plugin.source": "https://forge.thergic.ar/jose/itchio-opengamepadui-artprovider-plugin",