diff --git a/mealie_mcp/verify.py b/mealie_mcp/verify.py
index 527e702..f62ee62 100644
--- a/mealie_mcp/verify.py
+++ b/mealie_mcp/verify.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ from .normalize import (
     looks_mangled,
 )
 
+#: Mealie stores this sentinel in ``image`` when a recipe has no cover, so a
+#: truthiness test on the field reports a cover that is not there.
+NO_IMAGE_SENTINEL = "no image"
+
 Status = Literal["pass", "fail", "warn"]
 
 
@@ -23,6 +27,19 @@ def _check(check_id: str, status: Status, detail: str) -> dict[str, str]:
     return {"check": check_id, "status": status, "detail": detail}
 
 
+def has_cover_image(recipe: dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
+    """Whether the recipe carries a real cover image.
+
+    Mealie writes the literal string ``"no image"`` instead of an empty value
+    when a recipe has no cover, so an emptiness test has to reject that
+    sentinel too.
+    """
+    image = recipe.get("image")
+    if not isinstance(image, str):
+        return bool(image)
+    return image.strip().casefold() not in ("", NO_IMAGE_SENTINEL)
+
+
 def is_parsed(recipe: dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
     """Whether Mealie will stop showing 'your ingredients aren't parsed yet'.
 
@@ -149,7 +166,7 @@ def verify_recipe(
         )
     )
 
-    has_image_field = bool(recipe.get("image"))
+    has_image_field = has_cover_image(recipe)
     if image_verified:
         image_status: Status = "pass"
         image_detail = "Image step ran and was verified by the caller"
diff --git a/tests/test_verify.py b/tests/test_verify.py
index 2e4cb8f..13a2763 100644
--- a/tests/test_verify.py
+++ b/tests/test_verify.py
@@ -61,6 +61,14 @@ class TestCoverImage:
         assert status_of(report, "cover_image") == "fail"
         assert report["complete"] is False
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("stored", ["no image", "No Image", "  no image  ", ""])
+    def test_mealies_no_image_sentinel_fails(self, stored):
+        # Verified against Mealie 3.22: a recipe without a cover stores the
+        # string "no image", which a truthiness test reads as a cover present.
+        report = verify_recipe(complete_recipe(image=stored))
+        assert status_of(report, "cover_image") == "fail"
+        assert report["complete"] is False
+
 
 class TestSwedishContent:
     def test_english_ingredient_line_fails(self):