diff --git a/internal/identify/identify.go b/internal/identify/identify.go
index 144a58a48..43e1dedf3 100644
--- a/internal/identify/identify.go
+++ b/internal/identify/identify.go
@@ -252,7 +252,8 @@ func (t *SceneIdentifier) getSceneUpdater(ctx context.Context, s *models.Scene,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if utils.IsTrue(options.SetCoverImage) {
+	// SetCoverImage defaults to true if unset
+	if options.SetCoverImage == nil || *options.SetCoverImage {
 		ret.CoverImage, err = rel.cover(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err