diff --git a/src/switch_core_media.c b/src/switch_core_media.c
index 703fdb5c1a..8258c136bc 100644
--- a/src/switch_core_media.c
+++ b/src/switch_core_media.c
@@ -5606,6 +5606,7 @@ static void *SWITCH_THREAD_FUNC video_helper_thread(switch_thread_t *thread, voi
 	switch_rtp_engine_t *v_engine = NULL;
 	const char *var;
 	int buflen = SWITCH_RTP_MAX_BUF_LEN;
+	int blank_enabled = 1;
 
 	if (!(smh = session->media_handle)) {
 		return NULL;
@@ -5614,7 +5615,11 @@ static void *SWITCH_THREAD_FUNC video_helper_thread(switch_thread_t *thread, voi
 	switch_core_autobind_cpu();
 
 	if ((var = switch_channel_get_variable(session->channel, "core_video_blank_image"))) {
-		blank_img = switch_img_read_png(var, SWITCH_IMG_FMT_I420);
+		if (switch_false(var)) {
+			blank_enabled = 0;
+		} else {
+			blank_img = switch_img_read_png(var, SWITCH_IMG_FMT_I420);
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (!blank_img) {
@@ -5709,7 +5714,7 @@ static void *SWITCH_THREAD_FUNC video_helper_thread(switch_thread_t *thread, voi
 
 		vloops++;
 		
-		send_blank = 1;
+		send_blank = blank_enabled;
 		
 		if (switch_channel_test_flag(channel, CF_VIDEO_READY) && !switch_test_flag(read_frame, SFF_CNG)) {
 			switch_mutex_lock(mh->file_read_mutex);