diff --git a/channelselector.py b/channelselector.py
index 8ff4aa0e..35611e18 100644
--- a/channelselector.py
+++ b/channelselector.py
@@ -187,7 +187,10 @@ def get_thumb(thumb_name, view="thumb_", auto=False):
         if config.get_setting('enable_custom_theme') and config.get_setting('custom_theme') and os.path.isfile(config.get_setting('custom_theme') + view + thumb_name):
             media_path = config.get_setting('custom_theme')
 
-        thumbnail = os.path.join(media_path, view + thumb_name)
+        if thumb_name.startswith('http'):
+            thumbnail = thumb_name
+        else:
+            thumbnail = os.path.join(media_path, view + thumb_name)
         if 'http' in thumbnail:
             thumbnail = thumbnail.replace('\\','/')
         return thumbnail
diff --git a/core/channeltoolsDB.py b/core/channeltoolsDB.py
index 49e222f1..a62cf565 100644
--- a/core/channeltoolsDB.py
+++ b/core/channeltoolsDB.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def filter(category, language='all', adult=False):
             if channel[col] and col in ['categories', 'language']:
                 el[col] = channel[col].split(',')
             elif col == 'thumbnail':  # remote thumbnail
-                el[col] = os.path.join(thumb_path, 'resources', "thumb", channel[col])
+                el[col] = channel[col] if channel[col].startswith('http') else os.path.join(thumb_path, 'resources', "thumb", channel[col])
             elif channel[col]:
                 el[col] = channel[col]
             else: