diff --git a/module/finc/src/finc/Cover/Loader.php b/module/finc/src/finc/Cover/Loader.php
index 672c93a651b7fbe559f76997257c65330d295b72..fe853e9f2e70b56c78ce7c19e6c80b9da8f3e06b 100644
--- a/module/finc/src/finc/Cover/Loader.php
+++ b/module/finc/src/finc/Cover/Loader.php
@@ -59,7 +59,9 @@ class Loader extends \VuFind\Cover\Loader
     public function loadUnavailable()
     {
         $this->hasLoadedUnavailable = true;
-        file_put_contents($this->localFile,self::EMPTY_IMAGE_CONTENT);
+        if ($this->config->Content->useCoverFallbacksOnFail) {
+            file_put_contents($this->localFile, self::EMPTY_IMAGE_CONTENT);
+        }
         return parent::loadUnavailable();
     }