diff --git a/services/Wallpapers.qml b/services/Wallpapers.qml
index a56ff348..37b60667 100644
--- a/services/Wallpapers.qml
+++ b/services/Wallpapers.qml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Searcher {
 
     readonly property string currentNamePath: `${Paths.state}/wallpaper/path.txt`
     readonly property list<string> smartArg: GlobalConfig.services.smartScheme ? [] : ["--no-smart"]
+    readonly property string fallback: Quickshell.shellPath("assets/wallpaper.webp")
 
     property bool showPreview: false
     readonly property string current: showPreview ? previewPath : actualCurrent
@@ -76,11 +77,22 @@ Searcher {
     FileView {
         path: root.currentNamePath
         watchChanges: true
+        printErrors: false
         onFileChanged: reload()
         onLoaded: {
-            root.actualCurrent = text().trim();
+            let wall = text().trim();
+            if (!wall) {
+                wall = root.fallback;
+                Quickshell.execDetached(["caelestia", "wallpaper", "-f", root.fallback, ...root.smartArg]);
+            }
+            root.actualCurrent = wall;
             root.previewColourLock = false;
         }
+        onLoadFailed: {
+            root.actualCurrent = root.fallback;
+            root.previewColourLock = false;
+            Quickshell.execDetached(["caelestia", "wallpaper", "-f", root.fallback, ...root.smartArg]);
+        }
     }
 
     FileSystemModel {