diff --git a/beetsplug/fetchart.py b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
index ef311cbbd8..57e517e408 100644
--- a/beetsplug/fetchart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
@@ -1445,6 +1445,16 @@ def _is_source_file_removal_enabled() -> bool:
             "move"
         ].get(bool)
 
+    def _is_candidate_fallback(self, candidate: Candidate) -> bool:
+        try:
+            return (
+                candidate.path is not None
+                and self.fallback is not None
+                and os.path.samefile(candidate.path, self.fallback)
+            )
+        except OSError:
+            return False
+
     # Asynchronous; after music is added to the library.
     def fetch_art(self, session: ImportSession, task: ImportTask) -> None:
         """Find art for the album being imported."""
@@ -1493,7 +1503,7 @@ def assign_art(self, session: ImportSession, task: ImportTask):
 
             self._set_art(task.album, candidate, not removal_enabled)
 
-            if removal_enabled:
+            if removal_enabled and not self._is_candidate_fallback(candidate):
                 task.prune(candidate.path)
 
     # Manual album art fetching.
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 25a0c13650..f419c1d7e8 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ New features:
 
 Bug fixes:
 
+- :doc:`plugins/fetchart`: Prevent deletion of configured fallback cover art
+
 For packagers:
 
 Other changes:
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_art.py b/test/plugins/test_art.py
index 02d23d59b7..9f5e6c216d 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_art.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_art.py
@@ -310,6 +310,16 @@ def test_precedence_amongst_correct_files(self):
         ]
         assert candidates == paths
 
+    @patch("os.path.samefile")
+    def test_is_candidate_fallback_os_error(self, mock_samefile):
+        mock_samefile.side_effect = OSError("os error")
+        fallback = os.path.join(self.temp_dir, b"a.jpg")
+        self.plugin.fallback = fallback
+        candidate = fetchart.Candidate(logger, self.source.ID, fallback)
+        result = self.plugin._is_candidate_fallback(candidate)
+        mock_samefile.assert_called_once()
+        assert not result
+
 
 class CombinedTest(FetchImageTestCase, CAAHelper):
     ASIN = "xxxx"