diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core.Test/MediaFiles/EpisodeImport/DetectSampleFixture.cs b/src/NzbDrone.Core.Test/MediaFiles/EpisodeImport/DetectSampleFixture.cs
index cb5e45de5..ae7934b70 100644
--- a/src/NzbDrone.Core.Test/MediaFiles/EpisodeImport/DetectSampleFixture.cs
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core.Test/MediaFiles/EpisodeImport/DetectSampleFixture.cs
@@ -213,5 +213,16 @@ public void should_use_runtime_from_episode_over_series()
 
             Subject.IsSample(_localEpisode).Should().Be(DetectSampleResult.Sample);
         }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void should_default_to_45_minutes_if_runtime_is_zero()
+        {
+            GivenRuntime(120);
+
+            _localEpisode.Series.Runtime = 0;
+            _localEpisode.Episodes.First().Runtime = 0;
+
+            Subject.IsSample(_localEpisode).Should().Be(DetectSampleResult.Sample);
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core/MediaFiles/EpisodeImport/DetectSample.cs b/src/NzbDrone.Core/MediaFiles/EpisodeImport/DetectSample.cs
index e718840d1..42a28baf4 100644
--- a/src/NzbDrone.Core/MediaFiles/EpisodeImport/DetectSample.cs
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core/MediaFiles/EpisodeImport/DetectSample.cs
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ public DetectSampleResult IsSample(LocalEpisode localEpisode)
                 return DetectSampleResult.Indeterminate;
             }
 
+            if (runtime == 0)
+            {
+                _logger.Debug("Series runtime is 0, defaulting runtime to 45 minutes");
+                runtime = 45;
+            }
+
             return IsSample(localEpisode.Path, localEpisode.MediaInfo.RunTime, runtime);
         }