diff --git a/src/libs/metadata/impl/taglib/Utils.cpp b/src/libs/metadata/impl/taglib/Utils.cpp
index 94dcc168..a8320fa2 100644
--- a/src/libs/metadata/impl/taglib/Utils.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/metadata/impl/taglib/Utils.cpp
@@ -102,10 +102,13 @@ namespace lms::metadata::taglib::utils
 
     std::unique_ptr<TagLib::File> parseFileByExtension(TagLib::FileStream* stream, const std::filesystem::path& extension, TagLib::AudioProperties::ReadStyle audioPropertiesStyle, bool readAudioProperties)
     {
-        const std::string ext{ core::stringUtils::stringToUpper(extension.string().substr(1)) };
-
         std::unique_ptr<TagLib::File> file;
 
+        if (extension.empty())
+            return file;
+
+        const std::string ext{ core::stringUtils::stringToUpper(extension.string().substr(1)) };
+
         // MP3
         if (ext == "MP3" || ext == "MP2" || ext == "AAC")
             file = std::make_unique<TagLib::MPEG::File>(stream, TagLib::ID3v2::FrameFactory::instance(), readAudioProperties, audioPropertiesStyle);