diff --git a/picard/coverart/__init__.py b/picard/coverart/__init__.py
index c62ee7e6b..517f11607 100644
--- a/picard/coverart/__init__.py
+++ b/picard/coverart/__init__.py
@@ -164,6 +164,26 @@ class CoverArt:
             self.next_in_queue()
             return
 
+        # local files
+        try:
+            if coverartimage.filepath:
+                data = None
+                try:
+                    with open(coverartimage.filepath, 'rb') as file:
+                        self._set_metadata(coverartimage, file.read())
+                except IOError, (errnum, errmsg):
+                    log.error("Failed to read %r: %s (%d)" %
+                              (coverartimage.from_file, errmsg, errnum))
+                except CoverArtImageIOError:
+                     # It doesn't make sense to store/download more images if we can't
+                     # save them in the temporary folder, abort.
+                     return
+                self.next_in_queue()
+                return
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+
+        # on the web
         self._message(
             N_("Downloading cover art of type '%(type)s' for %(albumid)s from %(host)s ..."),
             {