diff --git a/osu.Game/Beatmaps/Drawables/UpdateableBeatmapBackgroundSprite.cs b/osu.Game/Beatmaps/Drawables/UpdateableBeatmapBackgroundSprite.cs
index 0bb60847e5..6f71fa90b8 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Beatmaps/Drawables/UpdateableBeatmapBackgroundSprite.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Beatmaps/Drawables/UpdateableBeatmapBackgroundSprite.cs
@@ -52,8 +52,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Beatmaps.Drawables
 
         private Drawable getDrawableForModel(IBeatmapInfo? model)
         {
+            if (model == null)
+                return Empty();
+
             // prefer online cover where available.
-            if (model?.BeatmapSet is IBeatmapSetOnlineInfo online)
+            if (model.BeatmapSet is IBeatmapSetOnlineInfo online)
                 return new OnlineBeatmapSetCover(online, beatmapSetCoverType);
 
             if (model is BeatmapInfo localModel)