diff --git a/services/worker/src/workers/thumbnail.js b/services/worker/src/workers/thumbnail.js
index ac7ca00..a10ceae 100644
--- a/services/worker/src/workers/thumbnail.js
+++ b/services/worker/src/workers/thumbnail.js
@@ -64,7 +64,12 @@ export const thumbnailWorker = async (job) => {
     return { assetId, outputKey };
   } catch (error) {
     console.error(`[thumbnail] Error processing asset ${assetId}:`, error);
-    // Don't set status=error for thumbnail failure — asset is still usable without it
+    // Thumbnail failed but the asset is still usable via proxy — mark it ready
+    // so it doesn't stay in 'processing' state forever.
+    await query(
+      `UPDATE assets SET status = 'ready', updated_at = NOW() WHERE id = $1`,
+      [assetId]
+    ).catch(e => console.error('[thumbnail] Failed to update asset status:', e));
     throw error;
   } finally {
     await Promise.all([