diff --git a/src/org/kde/kdeconnect/Plugins/MprisPlugin/AlbumArtCache.java b/src/org/kde/kdeconnect/Plugins/MprisPlugin/AlbumArtCache.java
--- a/src/org/kde/kdeconnect/Plugins/MprisPlugin/AlbumArtCache.java
+++ b/src/org/kde/kdeconnect/Plugins/MprisPlugin/AlbumArtCache.java
@@ -270,6 +270,9 @@
          */
         private boolean openHttp() throws IOException {
             //Default android behaviour does not follow https -> http urls, so do this manually
+            if (!url.getProtocol().equals("http") && !url.getProtocol().equals("https")) {
+                throw new AssertionError("Invalid url: not http(s) in background album art fetch");
+            }
             URL currentUrl = url;
             HttpURLConnection connection;
             for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
@@ -433,6 +436,9 @@
             } catch (IOException ignored) {}
             return;
         }
+        if (payload == null) {
+            return;
+        }
 
         URL url;
         try {