diff --git a/lib/widgets/optimized_media_image.dart b/lib/widgets/optimized_media_image.dart
index 88e52ca0..868688b3 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/optimized_media_image.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/optimized_media_image.dart
@@ -353,8 +353,11 @@ class OptimizedMediaImage extends StatelessWidget {
     return _surfacePlaceholder(context, icon: fallbackIcon, iconColor: Colors.white54);
   }
 
-  Widget _buildErrorWidget(BuildContext context, dynamic _) =>
-      _surfacePlaceholder(context, icon: fallbackIcon ?? Symbols.broken_image_rounded, fillParent: true);
+  Widget _buildErrorWidget(BuildContext context, dynamic _) => _surfacePlaceholder(
+    context,
+    icon: fallbackIcon ?? Symbols.broken_image_rounded,
+    fillParent: !_hasKnownDimensions,
+  );
 
   Widget _buildFallback(BuildContext context) =>
       _surfacePlaceholder(context, icon: fallbackIcon ?? Symbols.image_not_supported_rounded);
diff --git a/test/widgets/optimized_media_image_test.dart b/test/widgets/optimized_media_image_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fb6123b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/widgets/optimized_media_image_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:material_symbols_icons/symbols.dart';
+import 'package:plezy/utils/media_image_helper.dart';
+import 'package:plezy/widgets/optimized_media_image.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  testWidgets('failed image placeholders keep explicit dimensions in loose layouts', (tester) async {
+    await tester.pumpWidget(
+      MaterialApp(
+        home: Scaffold(
+          body: Center(
+            child: Column(
+              mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+              crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+              children: [
+                OptimizedMediaImage(
+                  client: null,
+                  imagePath: 'https://example.invalid/broken-actor-image.jpg',
+                  width: 96,
+                  height: 96,
+                  imageType: ImageType.avatar,
+                  fallbackIcon: Symbols.person_rounded,
+                ),
+                const SizedBox(height: 8),
+                const Text('Actor Name'),
+              ],
+            ),
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+
+    expect(find.byIcon(Symbols.person_rounded), findsOneWidget);
+
+    final placeholder = find.descendant(of: find.byType(OptimizedMediaImage), matching: find.byType(Container));
+    expect(placeholder, findsOneWidget);
+    expect(tester.getSize(placeholder), const Size(96, 96));
+  });
+}